Beccy Ridsdel’s ceramic sculptures are cut open to reveal surprises beneath their surface. Below the carefully-peeled layers are busy floral patterns that act as the lifeblood to Ridsdel’s plates and cups. She compares her work to a surgical experiment that’s in progress. The…
There’s a simultaneous horror and fascination that goes along with viewing Jan Manski’s work, specifically his series titled Onania. In it, tentacles grow out of faces, and fleshy, putrid-looking skin is juxtaposed with a powdery pink, like the shade that Mary…
Jo Scholar has a way of making metal look like lace. Intricate cuts, scalloped edges, and draping fools the eye upon first glance, looking as delicate as a doily or antique crochet napkin. I hate using the term Steampunk to describe…
Chad Gunderson’s sculptures look wholly unnatural, but truth be told, I can’t quite figure out what he used to produce his pieces. That’s the point of his work, though, as explained through his artist statement: The term “natural” can be elusive and…
Artist Nina Jun crafts delicate, life-like balloons from ceramics. Seems contradictory, no? Balloons are so light, and here they are made from something that is unable to float. But with Jun’s balloons, they will never deflate, and we’re able to…
Philadelphia-based artist Amber Cowan crafts elaborate and detailed glass sculptures made from decorative (and discarded) household objects. She digs through thrift stores to find items from the 1940’s to 1980’s, and then refires them and resculpts them into what you…
Many, many months ago, I was approached by Carly of EMP Collective to curate a show in their multi-purpose art space. Located in downtown Baltimore, EMP is used for gallery shows, live performances, writing workshops, film screenings, and more. The…
Ya’ll know I love embroidery. So, I was totally blown away when I saw the work of Lithuatian artist Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė, who takes everyday metal objects and applies cross-stitching to them. She drills tiny holes in buckets, watering cans, shovels, and even…
Using pattern, structure, and repetition, artist Bianca Pratorius crafts soft felt sculptures that are affixed to the wall. These forms remind me of an article of clothing, like a soft scarf or fringe. They are comforting in that way, which is…