Nina Hole, ceramic sculptor, 1941-2016

I would like to take a moment to write a few words about Nina Hole, an incredible ceramicist whose unique work I have been following and admiring since we were introduced in 2009. 

Nina Hole, 1941-2016

Guldagergaard Center. A sculpture by Nina Hole can be seen on the lawn. 

I was in Denmark that year, doing a residency at the wonderful Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center. Nina was one of the founders of Guldagergaard, along with Priscilla Mourizen and a few other ceramics enthusiasts. 

Her monumental ceramic sculptures impressed me from the very first. She developed a totally original process of building and firing huge sculptures in the outdoors. Each of Nina's sculptures were not only stunning as a finished work of art - the process itself was a beautiful spectacle of clay and flame. 

One of Nina Hole's sculptures during firing

In addition to being a founding member of the Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center, Nina was also a founding member of the CLAY Museum of Ceramic Art in Denmark. She was also a member of the International Academy of Ceramics and the Danish Artist Union.

Exterior view of the CLAY museum

Another view of the museum

Interior view

Though I did not know Nina very well personally, when I heard the news of her passing I felt the loss very deeply as a woman and as a ceramic sculptor. She has left an enormous body of knowledge and work for all the world to learn from and enjoy. Please take a moment and read a bit about Nina Hole, a woman with a singularly unique vision who worked to build community and foster growth and exploration in the field of ceramic sculpture. 

Website Dedicated to Nina Hole's Work

Wikipedia Entry on Nina Hole

Sculpture in Minneapolis, MN

Nina with one of her sculptures

"Two Taarn," Boone, NC, USA

NY NOW Emerging Makers Fair!

A couple of weekends ago, I participating in the NY NOW fair. NY NOW is an enormous wholesale home goods exposition that takes over the entire Javits Center twice a year. Exhibitors have to apply and be accepted in order to participate. I applied to the "Emerging Makers" section (a small part of the very large "Handmade" section of the show), which is limited to businesses that have been operating only a year or less. 

The Javits Center is enormous!

When I heard I was accepted, I was thrilled! It would be my first large wholesale fair, and I was excited to meet business owners who might want to carry my ceramics. 

The fair opened Saturday, January 30th, but the Friday before was the day to set up the stand. When Joe and I arrived at the Javits Center, we saw that the amount of space given to us "Emerging Makers" was pretty small, but the location was excellent - right in the middle of a big hallway that connected two large, main areas of the exhibition! Each new company was given a 24"x24" pedestal on which to display our products. 

I am an "Emerging Maker!"

Very helpful staff setting up my pedestal. 

My face after 8 hours of standing!

New friends :)

For four days, the twelve new companies (including Micòl Ceramics) showed the best items of our collections. Many customers stopped by each day, interested in our work. We made orders from new clients and many contacts for future ones. 

NY NOW was an incredible experience for my new business. But the best part was the people that I met there. Designers from other new companies like Luz from Luz Ortiz, New York and Jackie from Lillian Jackson Textiles became my friends from the first day, always lending a hand and sharing information. It helped so much having these kind people around me during the long four-day show. 

I hope I can participate in NY NOW again soon!

Chalkware Workshop at the American Folk Art Museum

This July, I was honored to teach a workshop at the American Folk Art Museum. The museum has been hosting a wonderful exhibition entitled, "Folk Art and American Modernism" (open through September 27) and invited me to teach a hands-on workshop on the methods of producing chalkware figurines. 

"Chalkware is a mainly American term for popular figurines either made of molded plaster of Paris (usually) or sculpted gypsum, and painted, typically with oils or watercolors." Dating back to the late 18th century, American chalkware has a history as long as the country itself! Whereas the figurines were, through the beginning of the 20th century, valued as serious decorative art, they became more of a disposable commodity as the century progressed, when they were given out as prizes for winning carnival games. (wikipedia.org/wiki/chalkware)

Chalkware boy and girl

Chalkware stag

Chalkware carnival prize

While meeting with Suzanne de Vegh, the museum's Director of Public Programs and Audience Engagement, we realized it would be very difficult to find original molds or figurines to decorate at the workshop. So, I began searching for some old figurines I could use to make silicone molds and then reproduce. After a few unsuccessful trips to some antique stores around NYC, I finally found two perfect little figurines, and quickly got down to work making the molds!

Little girl #1, ready for silicone

Little girl #2, shown with mold and plaster reproduction

The workshop began with a short lecture by Suzanne on the historical path of chalkware in America. Afterward, I explained and demonstrated the process of making and decorating the figurines. Then each student was given time to paint their own figurines. I was impressed by the quality and wide variety of styles the students presented! 

View of the workshop

Students painting their figurines

"Rose"

"Ivy"

A unique approach to chalkware!

This workshop was such a special experience for me. Everybody at the American Folk Art Museum was very kind, and the students were so enthusiastic and fun. I highly recommend visiting the museum's beautiful space on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, and please check out their website, folkartmuseum.org, for current exhibitions (and look out for future workshops)!