We are thrilled to premiere Jason Stockman’s Stephanie, his new design series. All works are cast, but are then individually painted and unique. Stockman’s is currently the Studio Arts Program Manager at State College of Florida, Bradenton, FL.
This series is a culmination of Stockman’s recent research into connecting the qualities of craft-made ceramics and contemporary design methods. His work has many influences, but a passion for Donald Judd’s art and minimalism is central with care to avoid sterility.
What Stephanie achieves is a purity of form, yet with a welcoming, warm aesthetic and obvious practicality that invites use. One sees this in the careful calibration of his silhouette (a vessel’s linear anchor), the precision of form overall, the elegant line of the generous handles.
“I like the power of good design, all elements in perfect harmony to create an experience that is both analytical and intuitive. A design approach with my work allows me to explore refinement, to better serve functional demands and highlight the subtleties of my inspiration”.
So far he sounds like a maker who is intensely focused, serious, and he is, but he is also playful and inventive as the painted vessel surfaces suggest. Indeed, just how playful is explained in the following story:
At a pottery conference, on a dare, he climbed into a huge vessel by the North Carolina potter and installation artist Daniel Johnston. Then put the lid on as hat to the delight of a small gathering crowd of laughing attendees. When the crowd parted, there stood an angry Daniel––a mess of red hair, like a Viking warrior out to behead. Over drinks at the bar that night they became friends.
There has been a lot of excitement about this launch and we advise our buyers to move now, The shop closes Saturday, July 6 at Noon MST.
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