Opening Reception Friday January 11, 2008 6-9 PM Free and Open to Public

Closing Reception Friday February 22, 2008 6-9 PM Free and Open to Public

Nancy Cervenka

 

Tea...mmm delicious, fragrant, warming tea.  It's a part of my every
day life.  I make myself a pot of tea when I need to find my center.
It unwinds me.

The challenge for me when creating with a theme in mind is how I will
express myself using my medium: movie film.  I looked towards the
objects that define the act of drinking tea...the teapot and the
teacup.  Since I create sculptural forms with my film,  I wanted to see
if I could make a teapot that would actually be functional,  in that it
holds and pours water.
(I would not recommend hot water, nor would I recommend drinking out of
it!)

As I began creating the forms and putting the pieces together, I was
reminded of a time long ago when I was studying animation and making
Disney inspired pots out of clay in my ceramics class.  Many years
later I took several clay classes with the hugely talented and dear
friend Russ Gustafson-Hilton, whose claywork and teapots are
extraordinary.  I realized that most of what I know about making a
teapot came from Russ"s teachings.  I am somewhat limited in what I can
do with the film, so I was thrilled to get as much movement out of them
as I did. Looking at the finished pieces, I see a kinship to the
dancing Disney characters and Russ's  teapots.

I would then be remiss if I didn't honor my teachers for what they have
given to me, thus I have named them in the title.

This experience has opened up yet another level to explore with my film
sculptures, and I am grateful for the invitation to participate in this
show.

Now please excuse me, I hear my tea kettle singing.