Biography
Marty Fielding became captivated by clay as an anthropology major at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He continued his study of ceramics as a student and teaching assistant at Penland School of Crafts. Marty received his MFA at the University of Florida in May, 2015.
Fielding’s work has been included in invitational and juried exhibitions locally, nationally and internationally. Articles and images of his work are published in several books and magazines such as Ceramics Monthly, Pottery Making Illustrated, and Clay Times. He currently lives in Boca Raton with his wife Tiffany and daughter Isa, where he teaches at Florida Atlantic University.
Statement
The inherent usefulness of pottery has provided a vehicle for self-expression for twelve millennia. Following that precedent, the meaning of my work is its functionality. Clay is seductive; it can be molded into nearly any shape, adorned and embellished, metamorphosed into stone, and sealed with glass. Working with one of the oldest technologies known to humans excites me as a counterpoint to the abundance of new technologies on which we depend.
Aesthetically, I believe that contrast sparks interest. One aspect of an object often goes unnoticed without the juxtaposition of its opposite. By searching for elements that accentuate each other through resistance, I strive to construct a visual statement that attracts attention, and therefore use. To this end, I seek tension and balance by pitting loose vs. tight, curve vs. angle, warm vs. cool, shiny vs. matte, smooth vs. coarse, and historical vs. contemporary.
I work with earthenware clay that is formed on the wheel, with slabs, and/or coils. The surface of the pots is textured, brushed with terra sigillata, inlaid with ceramic patina, and glazed. The pots are fired to cone 04 with green electricity.
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