Welcome to the January 2015 spotlight on Handmade Tile Association artists. We feature two to three tile artists every month, plus links and resources (at right) to many of the tile events, gallery shows, and workshops featured around the country.
Next Handmade Tile Association meeting January 22nd
Time 6:30 - 8pm
Where- Foster Willey Sculptor Studio - this is a magical place it is a can't miss meeting.
Historic 607 Building
3rd Floor
607 22nd Ave NE
Agenda New directories are available Status of where we been and where we could go. Discuss goals for 2015 Pot Luck
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Foster Willey Sculptor, LLC |
Foster Willey grew up in St. Joseph, Michigan, attending several institutions including the Naguib School of Sculpture in Chicago, before completing his undergraduate degree, a BFA in painting and sculpture from Grand Valley State University in Allendale. He followed that by working as a wood carver for Kindel Furniture in Grand Rapids, MI where he also studied furniture design. Foster and his wife, artist Valerie Jenkins, moved to Minneapolis in 1989, the same year he opened his studio. In 1998 he received his first major commission from the City of Minneapolis for The Leaders' Wall, a series of 50 bronze facial portraits of community activists, at life-size. |
"Faces of Rondo" Portrait of Lou Bellamy in bronze, 16" wide by 20" high
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Foster's recent 2013 commission was also another large group of facial portraits, this time larger-than-life bronze images, in low relief. "Faces of Rondo" was commissioned by the Twin Cities' Metropolitan Council and is located on Victoria Street & University Avenue at the Victoria Light Rail Station in St. Paul. Foster collaborated with Guy Willey, Architect (and the artist's brother), on all phases of the project. |
Sleeping Car Porters, narrative tile
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The purpose of this work is to commemorate 16 residents from the Rondo community, both living and dead, who have contributed significantly to civil rights, labor unions and/or regional culture. The community was directly involved in the selection of these individuals. The station artwork also includes narrative tiles that reflect the history of the neighborhood, with thin, brick veneer covering the primary structures of each platform and selected statements, engraved into the brick, offering subtle context for the portraits. Learn about the Rondo Sleeping Car Porters.
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Hamline Station featuring Prairie Style motifs, 56" wide x 36" high Terra Cotta Glazed Ornamental Tile, Glazed Masonry Thin Brick
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The Hamline Prairie Station is inspired by the regional motifs of William Purcell and George Elmslie. The Prairie style was a combination of geometric and organic forms; the station provides a modern context for new designs that are both original and complementary. The artist collaborated with architect Guy Willey to carefully integrate the artwork into the existing architecture of the station. Another recent installation, "The Bee Way" was selected for inclusion in 'The Art of Place," by CODAworx and CODAmagazine in 2014, a global online service promoting art and collaborative design.
Foster maintains his studio in Northeast Minneapolis and currently teaches figurative sculpture and bronze casting at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts in Wayzata, MN.
- Contact - Foster Willey Sculptor, LLC
607 22nd Ave. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
612-782-8629
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Belvedere Art Tile, LTD
Susan Martin Serra Chromo, Colorado
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Susan Martin Serra
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NEW LOCATION The New Year has started off in a very positive fashion at Belvedere with a new studio/gallery soon to be open in Pagosa Springs, CO, home of the world's deepest hot spring. The new building will house several artists which will allow the Belvedere staff proximity to other creative people after 15 years of working exclusively in the more remote Chromo studio.
The concept for the studio/gallery is to make, show and sell architectural tiles, giftware, fine art murals and vessels. The space will accommodate small workshops, demonstrations and lectures as well. The targeted opening is February 1. The first session in the workshop series, Handmade Tiles I, will begin May 1st, 2015. Call soon to reserve your spot.
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Brianna Kramer, in front of her pottery
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NEW APPRENTICE Susan is very happy to announce that an energetic new apprentice has joined the Belvedere team from Gainesville, FL. Brianna is a recent graduate of the University of Southern Florida with a BA in Studio Art. Brianna discovered ceramics during her time at Gainesville High School where she fell in love with clay. After graduation, Brianna signed up at ApprenticeMentor.com (a site that Susan recently discovered). Brianna's broad range of skills, including drawing, painting, sculpting and a basic knowledge of ceramics, make her an excellent candidate for this position.
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"Thunderbird," carved in relief, 33" x 6.5"
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NEW WORK The thunderbird design, pictured above (enlarged in Belvedere's advertisement in the 2015 HTA Directory), was created in red, mid-range stoneware clay, with underglazes and overglazes before being fired multiple times in oxidation. Susan's mission was to create a sculptural wall piece for a historic lodge in the San Juan Mountains depicting a traditional thunderbird design. After much research into the origins, meaning and images connected with this legendary Native American creature, she created a design with a large, central cabochon turquoise stone surrounded by many small framing ones. This project has inspired her to consider incorporating semi-precious stones into future pieces. To begin your next project, large or small, contact Belvedere Art Tile today.
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Did these artists spark your interest for your tile project or tile collection? If so, contact them to let them know what you like about their work. Sign up for their mailing lists and/or social media. One of the best ways to support handmade tile is to share your favorite tile artists with friends and colleagues. Be a tile maven and help spread the word!
Sincerely,
Josh Blanc Handmade Tile Association, LLC www.handmadetileassociation.org
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Order your copy of the 2015 HTA Directory
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Need a 2015 Handmade Tile Association Directory? Order your free copy today. Click here.
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