Visiting Artist: Nicole Seisler

The Ash Street Project is pleased to welcome L.A. based artist Nicole Seisler for the first three weeks of June. Nicole is an interdisciplinary artist who creates sculpture, installation, and public art that investigate themes of time, ephemerality, and the overlapping roles of artist/viewer/participant/collaborator.

Seisler received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She has exhibited at venues including the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago; Elmhurst Art Museum, Illinois; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Museum of Fine Arts, Tallahassee; Armory Arts Center, West Palm Beach; North Gallery at the University of Washington, Seattle; Customs House, Sydney; Alto Galleria, Brussels; and Flash Atoyle in Izmir, Turkey. Reviews of Seisler’s work have been published in The New York Times, Hyperallergic, Ceramics Monthly, the Boston Globe, and the Boston Herald.

During her time at ASP, Nicole will be engaged in a project in our gallery space that will be shared with the public upon completion (late June). Please check our FB/instagram pages for details closer to this time. More on Nicole here.

VISITING ARTIST: JOE KRAFT

The Ash Street Project is pleased to host our Fall ‘18 visiting artist, Joe Kraft. Joe Kraft is a working artist in Chicago, IL.  He received his BFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2012.  Upon graduation he received a Windgate Fellowship Grant and spent time traveling the Southwest to experience and research Land Art.  Growing up in Illinois he wound up in Chicago soon after.  He has been an artist in residence at Lillstreet Art Center, the AIR Ceramic Center in Vallauris, France and Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center in Denmark.  While his primary medium is clay, Joe’s practice is rooted in drawing, which drives all other parts of his artistic work.  

In keeping with tradition, Joe will be working with us through early December, at which time his work will be featured in our annual Winter Open House (December 1st, from 4-8pm). Please come join us at this event to meet Joe and see his beautiful work. For more on Joe Kraft, please visit his website here.

Entrance Exhibit Recap

Thank you to all of you who came out last night. It was a beautiful evening and wonderful to introduce this new group of mentees, hear your feedback, and simply feel the support of the community once again. If you didn’t make it by and would like to, the exhibit will be up until November 9th. Gallery hours are 11-3, M-F or by appointment.

2017/18 Mentorship Exit Recap

Thank you to all who came out to support our 2017/18 Mentorship Exit Exhibits. Your being there helped make these evenings truly celebratory.  A big congratulations goes out to Chloe Kesten and Lorren Lowrey for their strong focus on making during this intensive year. The dedication to their work shone through with two fantastic, consecutive exhibits. To keep up with these artists, please follow them on social media, or join our ASP mailing list, where we will post updates.

2018 Summer Session Recap

The slide show above gives a brief peek into the wonderful, industrious two weeks we shared with our invited artists this summer at the Ash Street Project.  Summer Session allows approximately half a dozen invited artists two weeks of exploring ideas amongst peers, our mentees and the community.  

We are so grateful for this summer's artists and all that they brought to the session! Please see the earlier Summer Session post on this site for more on our guest artists as well as links to their websites. In addition, we would like to express our gratitude

A very special thank you to the following people for setting the time aside to take part in this great, creative venture:  Sanam Emami, Del Harrow, Aleka Tomlinson, Liz New, Amanda Salov and J.D. Perkin.  Additional gratitude to our volunteer hosts. Participants from past summer sessions (from mentees to visiting artists) came back to “host” our visitors by indulging them in all kinds of incredible food and drink. Thank you all! 

SUMMER SESSION 2018

 The Ash Street Project is pleased to announce our 2018 Summer Session Line Up.

Summer Session was created in an effort to shift the studio environment with the season's inherently different pace and rhythm.  Each summer, we invite six artists to come join us for a two week period.  This is an open time for them to discuss, create, and share in an exchange with each other, our studio community and the community at large.  This summer, from July 23-August 3, we are pleased to host the artists listed below.  Please click on each name for more information.  Feel free to join us for brown bag lunches (12-1, M-F) during these two weeks, as well as an opening cup exhibit Tuesday, July 24 from 6-8pm.

                                 Del Harrow

                              Sanam Emami

                            Aleka Tomlinson

                            Amanda Salov

                              J.D. Perkin

                                     Liz New

Changing Topics Conversation: The Creative Cycle

Artists in attendance, L>R: Bobbi Woods, Chloe Kesten, Ben Skiba, Lorren Lowrey, James Florschutz, Thomas Orr and Joanna Bloom (not pictured).

This month's conversation came out of a request to discuss issues around feeling creatively stuck.  We wanted to acknowledge that such experiences are a regular part of the creative cycle, rather than a 'problem' to be singled out and solved.  Additionally, the artist's professional cycle of making and exhibiting seems to further amplify this rhythm.  Once the work is made and sent off, there is often a starting over.  One way to lessen this transition, as suggested, is to have multiple pieces in process at all times, in order to always have something remaining to work on in the studio. We challenged the stigma of procrastination, choosing instead to honor the value of "fallow time". We challenged the stigma of 'procrastination',

Thank you Bobbi Woods and James Florschutz for adding your insights to the conversation.

Visiting Artists: Anna Schachinger and Maeve Mueller

The Ash Street Project is pleased to host Anna Schachinger and Maeve Mueller in collaboration with Fourteen30 Contemporary.  Proposed by Fourteen30 owner/director Jeanine Jablonski, the concept was to explore sending Fourteen30 artists to ASP for a period of time leading up to an exhibition.  This collaboration builds on Ash Street's interest in bringing in established artists from a broad range of media. So far this experience has provided the ASP community with rich inspiration.

Anna, a Vienna-based artist, shows at galleries and museums internationally, including The Reyes Projects in Birmingham, MI and Lulu, Mexico City.  You can read more about her work here.  At ASP, Anna is experimenting with some sculptural forms for possible inclusion in her exhibit.  Anna studied painting at SAIC where she developed her friendship with Maeve.  Maeve Mueller is a Boston-based artist who creates jewelry and functional vessels from ceramics.  Maeve is a staff member and assistant teacher at Harvard Ceramics in Cambridge.  She is using her time at ASP to explore new sculptural ideas.

Anna Schachinger's exhibit at Fourteen30 will run from April 27-June 15th.  The exhibit will open on Friday, April 27.  Details will be posted here.

ASP:EAMP 2018/19 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Ash Street Project Emerging Artist Mentorship Program (ASP:EAMP) is now accepting applications for the 2018/19 mentorship year, which runs September 2018 - August 2019.  

The mentorship program is non-traditional and organic in nature.  We look for artists who are relatively autonomous in their making  and are driven by a clear, attainable goal for their year with us.  The success of the Ash Street Project is strongly rooted in community, and for that reason we consider what each applicant can contribute to our program.

Our application process consists of two parts, the application and a follow-up interview.  The interview is an essential component of the process, allowing us to determine whether we are a good fit for you, and vice versa.  The ideal is for us to meet in person at The Ash Street Project, but where this is not possible, we will opt for a face-time interview.  

Going to NCECA? Adrienne Eliades, who spent a year with us at ASP, is happy to answer your questions about our program.  You can set up a time to chat with her during her Amaco demos Wednesday 3/14 1:30-3:30 and Thursday 3/15 or at the Art Axis booth from 9-10 Wednesday 3/14.

Please refer to the EAMP section of our website for additional details about our mentorship program, as well as an on-line application  We review applications on an ongoing basis and conduct interviews starting mid-April.  For further questions or communication, please email: info@ashstreetproject.com

Namita Wiggers Talk: Residencies as a Teaching Model

The Ash Street Project is pleased to host Namita Wiggers in a talk about residencies as a teaching model,  and how her experiences are shaping a new, innovative masters program in Craft Studies at Warren Wilson College. 

When a new MA in Craft Studies was announced at Warren Wilson College, response nearly crashed the server. Come learn about this exciting low-residency graduate program – the first of its kind – and see what Namita Gupta Wiggers has been up to the last six months through her travels and residencies at Watershed, Ox-Bow, and Norwegian Crafts (with a dose of Paris and North Carolina in there, too!) Her travels become the students' journey with faculty from across the US and abroad to develop this new field of craft studies. 

Namita Wiggers  is the Director of the MA in Critical and Historical Craft Studies at Warren Wilson College. She’s taught in the AC+D program, at OCAC and at PSU. She directs Critical Craft Forum, and from 2004-14 served as the Director and Curator, Museum of Contemporary Craft here in Portland, OR. 

Monday, January 29

Ash Street Project, 524 SE Ash

Doors at 5:30,  Talk at 6

Light refreshments courtesy of Warren Wilson College

Please RSVP here.

For more on Warren Wilson MA in Craft, click  here.

Changing Topics Conversation: Art and Fear

Last week we returned to the topic of Art and Fear in our bi-monthly conversation series.  This topic was chosen in an effort to support a post-holiday jump start into the new year.  Our guests, all seasoned artists, gave valuable insights into the role of fear in the creative cycle, and how they have learned to recognize and deal with it.  In addition, the mentees sharing their own experiences provided us with valuable insights into their current processes.    

Following our conversation, the artists had the opportunity to walk through the studio and discuss work with the mentees.  Thank you Kate MacDowell, Judy Hill and J D Perkin for taking the time to break bread with us and join in the conversation.

Visting Artists: Rimas VisGirda and Mic Stowell

We always look forward to the Fall visiting artist at ASP.  During this special time, our artists come and make work, share in our Thanksgiving meal, and stay on for Winter Open House.

After repeated requests from past mentees, Rimas and Mic drove out from Ilinois and Minnesota, respectively.  Rimas, retired from Illinois Wesleyan, has taught widely throughout the western and mid-western United States.  He is known for his complex surface techniques, employing engobes, decals and lusters.  He is also known, to a few, as Captain Ceramics.  Mic Stowell, who lives in south Minneapolis, recently retired from twenty-six years of full-time teaching.  His work has gone through multiple iterations from slip cast geometric teapots to tightly painted plates and organic forms.  He is the 2017 McKnight Fellowship recipient. 

Please see the visiting artist section of this website for more on Mic and Rimas and join us in a festive celebration of their time here at our annual Winter Open House this Saturday, Dec. 2, from 4-8.

Changing Topics Conversation: Developing/Generating Ideas and Concepts

Last week we renewed our conversation dinner series with a lively discussion around "Developing/Generating Ideas and Concepts".  Our three invited artists contributed fantastic, diverse perspectives on the topic.  The proposition of considering content in lieu of concept seemed tremendously freeing, in an effort to avoid the overwhelm that can come from the stigma of  "concept" (i.e., conceptual art, etc.).  By the same token, it was agreed that concept is often driven by making.  Following our conversation, the artists had the opportunity to walk through the Entrance Exhibit and discuss work with the mentees.  

Thank you to our invited guests: Kelly Rathbone, Karl Burkheimer and Nan Curtis for sharing your insights with us.

2017 Mentorship Entrance Exhibition

The Ash Street Project Entrance Exhibition is one of two bookends in the mentorship experience here at The Ash Street Project.  It provides the community an opportunity to view the work that the our incoming artists are making prior to the start of the mentorship year.  We are so pleased to begin yet another year with three talented new artists: Lorren Lowrey, Gretchen Vaudt and Chloe Kesten.  Look for their exit exhibits in September, 2018.  In the mean time, come see what they are up to!  The community is always welcome to join us for lunch, from 12-1 each weekday.  

We are grateful for the crowd of people that came out to support us!  It was truly a celebratory evening for us, with many new faces in the house! 

2016 Mentorship Exit Recap:

Thank you to all who came out to support our 2016/17 Emerging Artists' Exit Exhibits.  Their hard work shone through and, with your support, these evenings were truly celebratory.  Congratulations to Sarah Stokes, Jimin Lee and Matt Asbill as you head on to your new adventures.  To keep up with these artists, please follow them on instagram or join our ASP mailing list to get the latest news

Summer Session 2017: Recap

The slide show above gives a brief peek into the wonderful, industrious two weeks we shared with our invited artists this summer at the Ash Street Project.  Summer Session allows approximately half a dozen invited artists two weeks of exploring ideas amongst peers, our mentees and the community.  The 2017 session was as prolific as it was fun, and the mentees, again, spoiled everyone with their delicious hosting skills.  

We are so grateful for this summer's artists and all that they brought to the session! Please see the July Summer Session post on this site for more on our guest artists as well as links to their websites.

A very special thank you to the following people for setting the time aside to take part in this great, creative venture:  Jeffry Mitchell, Amy Santoferraro, Judy Hill, Daniel Duford, Ted Vogel, Cynthia Lahti.  Additional gratitude to our hosts and mentorship participants: Jimin Lee, Matt Asbill, Sarah Stokes, Ben Skiba and Adrienne Eliades.  

2016/17 Mentees Prepare to Exit

This year was a roller coaster ride, but through it all, our 2016/17 mentees were able to maintain focus and pull together some truly impressive work.  It is exciting to see the changes they have made in their work during their time at the Ash Street Project (entrance images can be found here).  For their exit shows, each mentee is fully responsible not only for the creation of the work, but all facets of its presentation, the prep work of the space and reception, as well as the designing of the signage and invitations.    

Please join us for the following receptions, to view the artist's work and celebrate their achievements:

Sarah Stokes  Friday, September 8  6-9pm

Matthew Asbill  Friday, September 15  6-9pm

Jimin Lee  Friday, September 22  6-9pm

Event pages can be found on the Ash Street Project Facebook page one week prior to each event.  

Each artist will give a brief presentation about their work at approximately 6:30 pm the evening of their opening.

Congratulations Sarah, Matt & Jimin!  We look forward to seeing what you do next.

Guldagergaard to Jingdezhen: An Evening of International Images

Please join us for an evening of image presentations from the recent travels of members of the Ash Street Project and friends.  The evening will include 4 short presentations.

Ash Street Project Co-Directors Joanna Bloom and Thomas Orr will present on their recent visit to the home and studio of potter Jean Nicolas Gérard in Valensole, France.  

Adrienne Eliades, Ash Street Project 2017 resident, will show images and talk about her month long residency at The Guldagergaard International Ceramics Research Center in Denmark.

Amy Santoferraro, Assistant Professor of Art at Kansas Sate University, will share images and information about her time working at Jingdezhen Private Studio.

Maryann Deffenbaugh, consultant at Vernissage Fine Art will present images from her recent European travels including  Documenta 14 , and the Venice Biennale .

Doors will open at 6:30, images at 7.

Summer Session 2017

 The Ash Street Project is pleased to announce our 2017 Summer Session Line Up.

Summer Session was created in an effort to shift the studio environment with the season's inherently different pace and rhythm.  Each summer, we invite six artists to come join us for a two week period.  This is an open time for them to discuss, create, and share in an exchange with each other, our studio community and the community at large.  This summer, from July 17-28th, we are pleased to host the artists listed below.  Please click on each name for more information.  Feel free to join us for brown bag lunches (12-1, M-F) during these two weeks, as well as an opening cup exhibit Tuesday, July 18 from 6-8pm.  

                      Seattle WA: Jeffry Mitchell

                Manhattan, KS: Amy Santoferraro

                   Portland, OR: Cynthia Lahti

                    Portland, OR: Daniel Duford

                        Portland, OR: Judy Hill

                        Portland, OR: Ted Vogel