Sue Ellen Parkinson
Origin Stories
September 1 - 27, 2021
First Friday Reception*
September 3rd 5-8 pm
Artist talk at 6:30 pm
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Sue Ellen shares her show preparation. |
October's show: Satoko Barash's "Vessels for Love and Comfort."
Like for many people in different parts of the world, the past 18 months have been an emotional ride for me, though I have been spared in so many ways. My parents live in Japan, and my father’s diagnosis with pancreatic cancer coincided with a Covid lock-down in March 2020. We had a wonderful visit in February that year and he asked me to make him an urn, although he was in a good health at the time and we were blissfully unaware of what his future held.
2020 meant readjusting my expectations around studio practice. I had already stopped accepting commissions before the pandemic started. I ran out of porcelain in April, but could not travel to purchase more. I started looking around in the corners of my studio for dry bags of clay. As I remembered how much I used to enjoy working with the dark brown stoneware clay body, the repetitive movements and just having something to do with my hands and time helped me process the tangle of negative feelings such as pain, fear, and guilt.
I’m drawn to functional work because of its intimacy with the user. The idea that my work is enriching somebody’s everyday rituals like eating, drinking, serving and entertaining motivates me. The technical challenges that come with creating utilitarian pieces enrich my practice as a potter. Similarly to many Japanese men, my father was generally spare on compliments or displays of affection, but I am honored that he felt that an urn made by me would be good enough for his eternal resting place.
~Satoko Barash
2020 meant readjusting my expectations around studio practice. I had already stopped accepting commissions before the pandemic started. I ran out of porcelain in April, but could not travel to purchase more. I started looking around in the corners of my studio for dry bags of clay. As I remembered how much I used to enjoy working with the dark brown stoneware clay body, the repetitive movements and just having something to do with my hands and time helped me process the tangle of negative feelings such as pain, fear, and guilt.
I’m drawn to functional work because of its intimacy with the user. The idea that my work is enriching somebody’s everyday rituals like eating, drinking, serving and entertaining motivates me. The technical challenges that come with creating utilitarian pieces enrich my practice as a potter. Similarly to many Japanese men, my father was generally spare on compliments or displays of affection, but I am honored that he felt that an urn made by me would be good enough for his eternal resting place.
~Satoko Barash
Northcoast Artists Welcomes Gary Lord & Kristin Coddington-Gordon
Gary Lord |
After retiring as a goldsmith, I discovered clay in 2013 and knew within 30 minutes that I was in for a wild and wonderful ride. The transition from precious metals to humble clay has been rewarding and exciting. My work is strictly “one of a kind” slab built art pottery and sometimes involves extensive hand carving.
Working in this new, expanded scale has set me free to go artistically where I could never go in jewelry design. Each piece I make is an original exploration of line, volume, surface, form and color in clay. Some work is functional, and some is strictly sculptural. The “Making” is what I love. Oh, to always have studio space, a medium, and a few tools, so I can honor the craft. ~Gary Lord |
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Kristin Coddington-Gordon 
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Kristin Coddington-Gordon of What Now Ceramics is a ceramic artist living on the Mendocino Coast. She is a fierce fighter for the environment, a mother of three creative half wild daughters and married to a guy who knows not to get in the way of what she is doing.
Each sculpture is made by hand without the use of a mold, making each piece unique and individual. The sculptures are raku fired and waxed with beeswax. The wood used in Kristin’s sculptures is in collaboration with her husband Bob Gordon. Bob mills local, reclaimed and salvaged woods and finishes these pieces with beeswax. By creating sculptures of struggling species, Kristin gives animals a voice. The message is left undefined but is clearly in reference to environmental collapse. She hopes her art stirs up an emotion prompting others to do what they can. The question is asked. What now? |
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Guest Membership Opportunity
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Northcoast Artists is currently looking for qualified artists to apply for guest memberships. Jewelers, especially, are urged to apply, although artists from all mediums will be considered.
Becoming a guest member is required before applying for a full membership.This allows the prospective artist to see what it's like to work in a cooperative gallery before making a decision on whether or not to apply for full membership. Download an application here. |
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Coronavirus Safety
Our members would like to thank everyone for their continued support throughout these challenging times. Now that we've reopened full time, we hope you'll soon stop by and see the wonderful art and fine craft our artists have made over these past few months.
At present we're continuing to follow the county's health guidelines on masking. We hope that the measures will keep everyone safe while they enjoy their visit to the beautiful Mendocino Coast.
Sincerely, everyone at Northcoast Artists
At present we're continuing to follow the county's health guidelines on masking. We hope that the measures will keep everyone safe while they enjoy their visit to the beautiful Mendocino Coast.
Sincerely, everyone at Northcoast Artists
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Encaustics |
