writings, thoughts, politics, land ethic, land management, southwest, new mexico, santa fe, watershed, world, ecology, plants, current events, blog, art and sculpture. ...
Great press!.... "Several pieces stood out. One, Nichos, is a knotted, branchless tree with small portals resembling holes poked out by woodpeckers that you can peer into. Inside are little scenes that seem like memories of things the tree has witnessed in its long life — a combination of miniature work, video, and holograms. A fiery red light illuminates the tree from within, as though it was burning inside. Nichos was created by Santa Fe-based artists Nate Metheny and Thor Sigstedt." -Michael Abatemarco (reviewer for Pasatiempo)
Raku Rukus III Come make raku objects with Dean Howell and Thor Sigstedt
When? Starts Saturday April 9th at 10:00 am 2016 at Dean Howell Art Studio and then follow-up glazing and burning at Adventure Trails Ranch along the creek on April 16th.
$75 including materials! ...
Dean's Art Studio address: 1575 Center Court 87507
Dean's phone number: 466-2838 or Thor 466-4403 or facebook message works for Thor Sigstedt
RAKU
RUKUS III
I.BRIEF HISTORY OF
RAKU
In the Japanese language, the word RAKU means “beautiful”,
and has been used forcenturies to
describe the ritual, the process, & the clay cups associated with theJapanese, sake and tea-drinking
ceremonies.Contemporary artists and
craftspeople allover the world have
adopted and adapted the process to their own cultures, andpersonal methods of self
expression.The RAKU process of firing
clay—by suddenimmersion/removal
from red-hot firing chambers—offers beautiful visual effects onglazes & clay objects…as well as
providing unusual & stimulating, visual experiencesfor the maker of the objects, and for
all who witness the dynamic process!
II.RATIONALE
The RAKU process lends itself immediately to contemporary
forms of expression, while maintaining its original capacity of representing
ritual, and ethnic expression.Given its
adaptive nature & relatively low budget & overhead—as a three
dimensional and sculptural experience—it has become a very popular choice of
students of all ages & skill levels.Though not yet a basic, required medium/process in most programs, it
still has all the educational advantages for the developing art student or
novice.The process helps develop
sensibilities in depth perception, skills in a plastic medium, vision &
tolerance for the unknown, and opportunities to integrate “art &
science”.Educationally, RAKU has come
to be synonymous with “successful experience”.
III. RAKU RUKUS DESCRIPTION
This RUKUS provides a comprehensive study of the RAKU
process for SCULPTURE—its tools, creative/technical processes, and
materials.Specifically, the
participants learn: 1.) …the nature of RAKU clay bodies & glazes; 2.) …how
to design & build RAKU kilns; 3.)…how to create a rukus... SCULPTURAL OBJECTS for the RAKU process; 4.)
…how to conduct a RAKU firing; 5.) …the safety & environmental concerns of
the RAKU process; 6.)…most importantly…the “spontaneous & deliberate”
character ofthe RAKU RUKUS!!;
EVERYONE ENCOURAGED
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
By Val Sigstedt, Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania March 2016
Thor and Nate have decided to collaborate on a rustic sculpture/contemporary media project, which will hopefully come across as an exciting adventure in peering into natural burned out branch niches of an aspen tree.......to see......to experience......to be startled and enlightened......at what the natural world........provides.....to stimulate a deep and startled response as we peer....into......a tree....These are the types of images that will be seen in the 'niches' of the NICHOS project; just a beginning of this artistic set of impressions:
