statement-Carignan

Growing up in the suburbs of western Washington I have seen a large amount of development in a short amount of time. Within this development there has been a disposability of space and any personal meaning of that place as it has been developed. This disposability and consumption of manufactured goods is what has driven my artistic endeavors. It wasn’t immediately that I knew that I wanted to pursuit ceramics, but it was after a brief take on engineering that I realized that creating details of buildings wasn’t what I wanted to do; I had to be more involved in a creative process. Ceramics to me was an outlet, to create, to build, to feel something that was being made, produced for the purpose of function. As my studies continued I learned more about the history of ceramics as well as where it has gone in recent times. The driving factor of my work is comfort and utility, I want people to use the objects I make and enjoy their involvement with the pieces. Asymmetry is a large part of my work, there is a natural feel and look to the way an asymmetric vessel is presented to its user. Another natural process that I feel helps build character to the pieces I make is wood firing, the way the flame travels through the kiln depositing ash and melting it to the pots is very interesting and speaks of a natural and traditional form. There is still very much for me to learn in the process’  of working, building and firing ceramics, and the more I continue to pursuit this education, the more refined the pieces will become as well as the dialogue between my educational background and the visual aspects of the pieces will become realized.

-Chad Carignan