The audio file for this article was produced by the Ceramic Arts Network staff and not read by the author.
Ceramics Monthly: What topics are central to your work and/or research as an artist and why?
Alex Thomure: Vessels are defined by what they contain, no different than a person. Narrative pots in the 21st century are an avenue for makers to express what is contained within themselves through form and surface. I count myself among
the countless makers who use the vessel as a vehicle to capture a human experience. My current body of work tells the story of a family haunted by alcoholism/addiction. The domestic vessels we live with stand witness to all that occurs within the
home and serve as the reliquaries of our lives. A life in sobriety is about responding to the damage caused by active addiction. Much of my creative process is responding to previous decisions made impetuously. There also exists a sense of humor and
play in the work. Humor can be an invaluable asset in working through trauma, serving as one of life’s greatest coping mechanisms.
CM: Who is your ideal audience?
AT: People often reach out to me that are in recovery themselves or have a loved one that is suffering from active addiction. Making these connections means a lot to me, but I aim to also reach those who do not understand the nature of
alcoholism/addiction and subscribe to the many stigmas associated with it. More often than I would like, I hear people speak very poorly of those suffering from addiction/alcoholism, offering judgment rather than empathy or concern for their well-being.
I focus on the family dynamic as a reminder that addicts/alcoholics have loved ones. It is a family illness.
CM: What techniques do you use to make your work and why?
AT: I utilize throwing as a means to visualize and create forms quickly; however, the vast majority of the time spent on a piece begins after leaving the wheel. Through scraping, tearing, slapping, and puncturing the clay, I look for
reactions in the material that communicate certain emotions, memories, and certainly self-destruction. Afterward, several more layers of information are applied through brushstroke. There is an obsessive nature to the brushwork, which speaks to the
nature of addiction. A lot of the process is responding to previous decisions that were made in an impetuous, immediate manner. I love searching for and emphasizing the little moments in the work that speak to me.
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The audio file for this article was produced by the Ceramic Arts Network staff and not read by the author.
Ceramics Monthly: What topics are central to your work and/or research as an artist and why?
Alex Thomure: Vessels are defined by what they contain, no different than a person. Narrative pots in the 21st century are an avenue for makers to express what is contained within themselves through form and surface. I count myself among the countless makers who use the vessel as a vehicle to capture a human experience. My current body of work tells the story of a family haunted by alcoholism/addiction. The domestic vessels we live with stand witness to all that occurs within the home and serve as the reliquaries of our lives. A life in sobriety is about responding to the damage caused by active addiction. Much of my creative process is responding to previous decisions made impetuously. There also exists a sense of humor and play in the work. Humor can be an invaluable asset in working through trauma, serving as one of life’s greatest coping mechanisms.
CM: Who is your ideal audience?
AT: People often reach out to me that are in recovery themselves or have a loved one that is suffering from active addiction. Making these connections means a lot to me, but I aim to also reach those who do not understand the nature of alcoholism/addiction and subscribe to the many stigmas associated with it. More often than I would like, I hear people speak very poorly of those suffering from addiction/alcoholism, offering judgment rather than empathy or concern for their well-being. I focus on the family dynamic as a reminder that addicts/alcoholics have loved ones. It is a family illness.
CM: What techniques do you use to make your work and why?
AT: I utilize throwing as a means to visualize and create forms quickly; however, the vast majority of the time spent on a piece begins after leaving the wheel. Through scraping, tearing, slapping, and puncturing the clay, I look for reactions in the material that communicate certain emotions, memories, and certainly self-destruction. Afterward, several more layers of information are applied through brushstroke. There is an obsessive nature to the brushwork, which speaks to the nature of addiction. A lot of the process is responding to previous decisions that were made in an impetuous, immediate manner. I love searching for and emphasizing the little moments in the work that speak to me.
Learn more on Instagram @alexthomureceramics.
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