Hi all. Now that the Professional Outreach Program Exhibition theme has gone public, I’m curious to hear everyone’s thoughts. Does the theme spark creativity? Are you planning to submit an entry for jury? If you haven’t read yet, the theme is Form | Content. Here is an explanation:
Form and content refer to two distinct but essential and interwoven aspects of an object: form is the composition, techniques used, medium, color, pattern; content is what the form communicates or evokes: subject matter, meaning, concept, feelings.
As a theme, Form | Content offers many different possibilities: from statements on pure craft (the form is the full meaning or purpose), to thinking about how we use wood, shape, texture, color, surface design, etc. to convey meaning beyond function and beyond. As a play on words, ‘content’ can also refer to the state of being content, or to the contents of a container, since turners are often vessel makers and vessels hold content(s). The theme makes space for all forms of turning.
I feel like this theme is very open to interpretation, which is sort of alluded to in the “possibility” statement. Just about anything can apply to the theme. I suppose this is a good thing though, as I’m excited to see the variety of pieces exhibited. The artist statements will (or should) likely be very important. I wonder how much the statement is considered during judging?
Anyway, I’m going to try to submit three entries, though I’m not expecting to be chosen—having seen the immense talent at the Chattanooga symposium’s gallery…wow! That said, being selected as an exhibitor isn’t really the most important thing. The challenge to make three pieces of a certain caliber is what I’m excited about. All of my submissions will test my skills and allow me to grow as a turner. Cheers!
Form and content refer to two distinct but essential and interwoven aspects of an object: form is the composition, techniques used, medium, color, pattern; content is what the form communicates or evokes: subject matter, meaning, concept, feelings.
As a theme, Form | Content offers many different possibilities: from statements on pure craft (the form is the full meaning or purpose), to thinking about how we use wood, shape, texture, color, surface design, etc. to convey meaning beyond function and beyond. As a play on words, ‘content’ can also refer to the state of being content, or to the contents of a container, since turners are often vessel makers and vessels hold content(s). The theme makes space for all forms of turning.
I feel like this theme is very open to interpretation, which is sort of alluded to in the “possibility” statement. Just about anything can apply to the theme. I suppose this is a good thing though, as I’m excited to see the variety of pieces exhibited. The artist statements will (or should) likely be very important. I wonder how much the statement is considered during judging?
Anyway, I’m going to try to submit three entries, though I’m not expecting to be chosen—having seen the immense talent at the Chattanooga symposium’s gallery…wow! That said, being selected as an exhibitor isn’t really the most important thing. The challenge to make three pieces of a certain caliber is what I’m excited about. All of my submissions will test my skills and allow me to grow as a turner. Cheers!
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Good call with 