Melissa G. Jones

Ada Van Hecke

Artist/ Process Statement

In Process, arose from the constant dialog of Melissa and Ada regarding their creative processes, theories and ideas. We came from two different art backgrounds. Melissa from Booker T Washington Art's Magnet in Dallas, Texas, and Kansas City Arts Institute in Kansas City, Missouri; Ada from College of Southern Maryland in LaPlata, Maryland. We were thrown together at the New York State College of Ceramics, School of Art and Design at Alfred University, where we were engaged in intense study of ceramic forms, materials and processes.

Our individual work illustrates the what happens when the carefree and curvaceous meets structure and line.

Our collaboration took on many different forms throughout the process. The initial design began as simple drawings, as we worked to find a two basic cup forms to create. Then three dimensional prototypes were created on the Potter's wheel by Melissa. Together, the prototypes were analyzed and manipulated to define structural decorative guidelines for production. The divot evolved out of our desire to dictate the manner in which the vessel is to be held, while abandoning the traditional handle. The clay body was selected for its warm tone, fine particle size, and ability to maintain structural form despite firing temperatures great enough to create high percentage of glass in the body. Ada created several colored slips for surface decoration. They were formulated through a series of calculations and experiments to manipulate the formula of an existing porcelain casting slip body to include large volumes of encapsulated pigments. Simple addition of pigments to a slip would have resulted in separation of materials as the heavy weight pigments easily fall out of suspension. Shrinkage of the clay body and slip were manipulated to ensure that they would not separate during production. After our initial planning, Melissa continued production of the forms on the wheel. After the initial firing the cups were glazed. Each piece was glazed in multiple applications, allowing each of us the opportunity to impact the final surface of the cups. Several of the pieces have areas left unglazed, an idea that evolved from Melissa's process of pouring and dipping glazes. The high glass content of the clay, creates the illusion of a different process of salt firing despite the fact that the pieces were fired in an electric oxidation atmosphere.

Our work has always been very individual, and often we clash in our perception of artwork. Together we pulled our resources and strengths, to create a series of cups in collaboration. In Process showcases our individual work, as well as our combined work, and the work of our peers. We share one common medium, yet many different processes.

Seth Dressler