This month, meet local ceramicist extraordinaire Ted Ciccone. He returned to his first love of ceramics 5 years ago and his creations run from playful, (have you seen the jelly bean on feet bud vase?!) to highly detailed, exacting pieces.
Here he is in his own words:
How did you get started creating your pieces?
I first started exploring pottery in high school, attended University of the Arts to study ceramics and then shifted my major to industrial design. After a career in product design and marketing I returned to ceramics as a focus in the last five years. It has been a long strange trip, but I’ve come full circle back to my passion for pottery.
What’s the favorite part of your work/what you make?
Brainstorming and envisioning the next piece and the moment when you first see the work come out of the kiln. You can plan and plan, but in ceramics there are no guarantees. Sometimes you get a result you did not expect and sometimes that exceeds your vision!
How do you express your creativity through your work?
I love the flexibility of clay and how I can explore the extremes from sharp geometric forms to free-flow organic ones. I enjoy creating works that look like they might have been machined by tools or grew out of the earth.
What brings you joy?
An idea in my head, clay in my hands and the ability to create something out of nothing.
What challenge(s) have you overcome?
There have been a few challenges, most I would have preferred to skip and I suppose they might influence my work. I try not to dwell on the past, I am focused on the present and the next piece of art. I am here, I can make art and I am grateful!
Anything exciting in the works/coming up for you?
I’ll be volunteering at the Shemer Art Center summer camps again. It’s always fun to see kids first-time with clay and see them wowed with what they can do.
What do you wish for the world?
Less criticism, chaos and disease, More caring, peace and health!
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Here is a summary of my bio- Ted Ciccone is a local ceramic artist exploring expansion, constriction, pressure and tension on the media of clay. How these forces are applied by hand creates shapes and textures reminiscent of forms found in the natural sciences. Manufactured materials and thrift store finds also serve as tools for his art. Originally from the East Coast, Ted earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial design from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. His product design background continues to be reflected in his current work. Simplicity of form, contrasting surface effects and finishes are integral to his art.
