TisF Finds Form...and Surface.
Clay is a natural medium in which to explore contradiction. Clay as a substance is soft, moist and responsive; as it becomes ceramic it's transformed into something rigid and fragile.
Building on the essence of the medium, these forms derive their impact through visual/physical contradictions, a precarious appearance and the tension this creates. Some pieces have curved bases, "missing" pieces, cracks and joints that make them appear unstable, but they stand. Others rock but don't tip over. The slabs are extremely thin which make the pieces much lighter than they appear. The scale and volume of the forms suggest function, but with holes, tears, cracks and uncertain balance they cannot perform most tasks assigned to traditional ceramic ware. These forms are beautiful yet ragged, fragile yet resilient- contradictory qualities that mirror attributes of humanity.
Jill has always been involved in art, drawing as a child and taking art class throughout her school years. She spent her undergraduate and graduate years studying fine art, painting, and drawing -finally focusing on photography. After moving to Chicago from Nebraska in 1996 she soon turned away from photography as the medium moved away from film and darkroom processes. She missed the hands-on experience and the excitement of watching the image appear on paper in the darkroom. She turned to a more traditional medium, clay, and soon found fulfillment again, making something out of nothing. Ceramics has the technical qualities that she loves and the element of surprise. Opening the kiln is like Christmas- you never know what you're going to see there and it's different every time.
Jill works and fires her pieces at the Evanston Art Center where she is also an assistant in the ceramics department. She shows her work around the United States and has been included in group shows at AKAR Gallery, Lillstreet Art Center, and the Clay Studio of Missoula among others. She is currently a gallery artist at Morpho Gallery in Chicago.
TisF followed up with this Fabulous Artist.
What is your idea of Fabulous?
JB: Having the strength to follow your heart even though its not necessarily the easiest or most comfortable path to take.
Who is the most Fabulous person you know?
JB: My friend Karla. She has always been her own person, is so intuitive, inventive and unafraid to make art about what she feels. She's inspired me since I met her.
Which Fabulous word do you use most?
JB: Awesome! I use that one a lot :-)
What is your greatest (most Fabulous) extravagance?
JB: Most recently, taking two weeks to study ceramics at Anderson Ranch. My most fabulous fashion extravagances are my Hogan bag and the Miu Miu dress and shoes I wore to my brother's wedding.
Where would you like or prefer to live your Fabulous life?
JB: I like to live in the city. If money was no object I would have a fabulous apartment in Manhattan and a vacation cabin on a lake in the woods.
What do you consider your greatest (most Fabulous) achievement? JB: So far, two things...1) recently was awarded Best In Show at a juried show at Gallery Up in SC www.flickr.com/photos/galleryup/sets/72157620595773096/ and 2) Ruth Duckworth came to a show I was in and told the curator how much she liked my work.
What is your (Fabulous) motto?
JB: Why not? You have nothing to lose...
Jill is offering TisF readers 20% off her ceramic sculptures, please visit: www.formandsurface.com to place an order, now that is Fabulous!
Photography courtesy of Jill Birschbach.
