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Artists « Charles Smith
Charles Smith (Pottery) Smith matured his interest in the arts by earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education with a minor in Pottery from Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss. There, he served as a Teacher Assistant to the late professor Marcus Douyon. Smith credits Douyon with providing a solid foundation of artistic discipline, skill and vision that helped him grow into the artist he is today. In 1977, Smith was hired by the City of Mobile as a resident artist, during which time he painted murals and taught art in city parks and recreation centers. Since that time, he has won some 25 first place or “Best of Show” awards for his work. “I’ve been doing this for several years now,” said Smith, “and in that time, my work has evolved tremendously, but it has not changed all that much. Art for me has been a maturing process, not a series of radical departures.” Smith said he is always attentive to the technical aspects of clay and glazes, considering their limitations and, at the same time, employing the unimagined possibilities they hold. His forms are classic, and his glazes are sophisticated in color and application. Charles uses cone 7 stoneware and decorates each piece using a carved-and-graffito technique. The style is derived from realistic and Art Nouveau forms, mixed with and interspersed with abstract animal imagery. “Graffito” is a decorative arts term that describes the technique of scratching through one surface to reveal a contrasting color underneath. While the size and shape of each pieces is unique, it is—and always has been—the hand-carved surface that distinguishes Smith’s work. Designs used today originated in design elements first explored in the late 1970’s. Smith says, “They are the shapes and patterns of nature, and until Mother Nature finds it necessary to rediscover herself, I’ll remain content following her lead.” Selected Exhibitions and AwardsResident Arts – City of Mobile, Alabama – 1977 Uncommon Beauty in Common Objects: The Legacy of African American Craft Art National Museum of Art in the Smithsonian Institution. Items in the APT AuctionRelated Linkshttp://www.smith-pots.com/http://thecoastalartisans.blogspot.com/2008/10/charles-smith-pottery-mobile-al.html http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/s/smithpots/ |
