Contemporary American ceramic artist Joanna Poag’s Untitled lll Sculpture is part of the Encompassed Series. It’s hand sculptured white stoneware fired to Cone 6 and hung by fishing wire. Encompassed is a body of work exploring movement within a contained space. The pieces are loosely based on mathematical roulette curves and are radial in their design. The work also draws inspiration from antique drawings of organisms found in the natural world, primarily the ocean. The pieces are white to emphasize their form and to accentuate shadow, speaking to the elegance of movement found within boundaries. All works are accompanied with a certificate of authenticity and/or signed by the artist. This sculpture measures 20" W and the elements measure from 9.50" H x 3.25 W to 14.25" H x 5" W.
Image 9: Joanna Poag received her MFA from the School for American Crafts at Rochester Institute of Technology and her BS from Roberts Wesleyan College. She is currently an Adjunct Professor of Art and Gallery Director of Davison Gallery at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY.
Provenance: This sculpture was acquired directly from Joanna Poag.
Artist Statement:
“My work explores the homeostasis of a system, and the resulting equilibrium from multiple parts self-regulating to form a whole. The multiple components of each piece make up a unified whole, creating a glimpse into a moving, healthy cross-section—a living, open system.
The time and process involved in the creation of each piece is a meditation that is reflected in my work; there is an organic, human quality clearly visible in the fingerprinted surfacing of each piece. The renewing of life and growth in even the smallest of structures is refreshing to me and I hope my work encourages my viewers to explore the intricacies of the world in a fresh way. I continually seek to create a glimpse of the elegance of structure and order that I find so captivating.
My process begins in on paper. After careful research and preparation (of systems spanning string theory, calligraphic flourishes, plant life, music and math), I transfer my designs to Adobe Illustrator and print them, using each printed line as a “floor plan” on which to build my numbered clay components. These components are displayed together as one system or grouping of components. As the year progresses, I hope to continue making large-scale installation work as well as explorations in clay that physically spiral through space. I seek to push the boundaries of the material in ways that I have not discovered yet—finding multiple paths to investigate the structural intricacies that each existing system holds.”
