IG: @tj_stanwood

tjstanwood.com

I Like Big Pots and I Cannot Lie

As a potter, I typically stay in the range of thrown functional wares, however, I am intrigued by the various making methods and unique outcomes from different techniques. Because of this, I have a tendency to walk the line of function and sculpture, exploring as much as I can. Currently, I am in the process of making a transition from creating functional wares to a more sculptural realm, but tying in the concepts of traditional function. I am taking a vessel such as a jar or a vase, and blowing up the scale. While creating this body of work, I came to the realization that working at a large scale, I am not only pushing the physical limits of myself and the studio, but also challenging the limits that the installation space confines me to. In doing so, I am exploring how large a vessel can be before it becomes so big that it is no longer functional and deemed a decorative sculpture.

Bio

TJ Stanwood is receiving his Bachelors in Fine Art in Ceramics at the Maine College of Art & Design as of May 12, 2023. Stanwood has been intrigued by the varying sizes that ceramic vessels can exist in, ranging from a small espresso cup to a six foot tall vase. Working in clay to create vessels on the potter's wheel, Stanwood has been exploring the realm of large scale pottery to expand upon his practice in the studio.