When I walked into Austin’s MFA show, "Sweet Nothing,” the scent of baby’s breath flowers was the first thing that struck me. The breath of these babies smell pretty damned good. Not even a hint of spilt milk.
Before I get into my impressions of the show, here is Austin’s thesis statement to give you some context:
“Sweet Nothing”
These pots were made as companions for you and your home. A vase for your table, full of freshly picked flowers as you and your partner eat breakfast and plan your day's activities. Large platters and compartment trays to present home-cooked meals with friends on a warm summer evening. Whiskey sippers that nestle in warm hands, topped off as needed from a half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels.
As a maker, I play these moments on repeat in my mind. As a designer, these scenarios direct the formal elements I develop for each piece. Pushing out an exaggerated belly on a modestly portioned whiskey sipper that complements the negative space of your palm, while keeping the rim thick and beveled to a crisp that fills the void of your lips. Satin, subdued surfaces formulated to mimic aging pastels of a soft vintage quilt that lay jumbled upon a morning bed. My approach has always been to design for my fantasy of Sunday morning breakfast with a fictitious loved one and the pots that elevate that tender moment. Pots can be conductors of romantic sentiment. I hope the viewer will invite these pots into their homes where they can quietly enrich simple and significant moments.
This exhibition is my creative effort towards understanding my yearning for a romantic life I can’t seem to create or explain for myself. I believe the pots can represent this weight, to be romantic without explanation, to exist at home in the present while remaining hopeful for the future."
Here are a couple of shots of how the gallery was laid out:
I’ve seen Austin’s style shift over the last two years. When he came to USU, he was making cone 10 soda fired pots with lots of decoration. He has stripped back the decoration, moved to electric firing at cone 3, and simplified his process. His forms owe a debt to his love of mid-century modern art and craft, but this comes across as a hint rather than bashing you over the head.
The pots in “Sweet Nothing” have a consistent feel. The pastel palette ties them together, as well as the precise but warm forms. Thin stripes complement and break up the rhythm of the pots. Austin is not skimpy with his use of clay and the pots have a nice feel and comfortable weight to them.
It was a pleasure to walk through the gallery and see all of Austin’s hard work and discipline pay off.
Anyway, I will stop rambling and show you the work. Let’s start with his vases full of sweet babies’ breath. I particularly enjoyed seeing the inventive forms Austin came up with for this series of vases…
Now on to plates, bowls and trays…
Cups, mugs and shooters…
Butter dishes, canisters and flasks…
And finally here’s a couple of pictures of Austin rolling his sleeves up to end on. He is also a motorcycle enthusiast so this is a practiced maneuver!
The show is up in the Tippets and Eccles Gallery at USU until Friday 22nd April so come on over if you live nearby!