Deneece Harrell
About The Artist
Deneece Harrell • Highlands, NC
Ceramics • WHOLESALE AVAILABLE • CUSTOM COMMISSIONS
Vessels exposing the tension of restoration, and beauty. Wrestling ideas of identity, value and purpose expressed in sculptural porcelain, inviting the viewer to reflect on experiences of loss, pain, disappointment, joy, and fulfillment. This analogical dialogue of torn, manipulated, clay, synthesizes emotion ideas, process, and materials held in juxtaposition. Expressing the tension of fragility and strength, incorporating movement, layering time, and history. The unglazed marred, translucent porcelain surface, at times documents the evidence of exposure to soda, and wood fires; at other times, the soft, white luster of surface, both speaking of beauty which draws one into self-reflection. The manipulated classical forms created from torn misshaped pieces speaking our individual yet shared humanity of experiences. We are reminded of value, of broken and restored places, held by staples and kintsugi. Exposed, afraid of not being loved if we are seen, learning we are seen and loved.
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Q&A with the ArtistTell us how your work is made.The work is made from segments of hand built, hand thrown porcelain clay slabs, torn, stretched, smoothed, marred, holes gouged, smoothed. Organic shapes layered together to create manipulated vessel forms. Joined in solid and open connections, ripped, pressed, exposed edges, connections of vulnerability, security, danger, unexpected, predictable, excitement, joy, focusing on relationships to each other. Places for staples are drilled in the leather hard clay, fissure and cracks encouraged. The work is fired in either an electric Kiln to cone 6 or a wood fired Soda kiln to cone 10. The Soda kiln emphasizes the surface texture and imparts subtle color and visual texture in the evidence of smoke and ash. Gold leaf is applied to the interior and outward opening surfaces using either a composition or 23.75 Karat leaf selected for color. Hand-hammered brass staples are created using a surface of a stone for texture, and a proprietary kintsugi composition applied. |