Through the materiality of clay and fiber I explore craft processes and their inherent relationship with the body. Making is an intuitive and physical action between my body and these materials. I respond to them and creates artifacts of my movements. These indexical traces simultaneously address themes of presence and absence. This trace remains evident in my vessels indicating a finger, a hand, a stroke of my movements and by mere function ask others to share their trace as well. This dichotomy of function and pure form in my practice is sustained by a connection to the body, my body.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Emily has been working in ceramics for almost 15 years. Wicks’ passion for teaching has brought her from teaching at VCUarts, the Visual Arts Center of Richmond and other community organizations to presently teaching at her own studio, Hand / Thrown. Emily works in both installation and functional ceramics; making pieces that focus on the materiality of clay and fiber, the body, and ephemerality. Most recently she created collections for Na Nin, Hazelwitch Farm, Rivercity Flower Exchange, Glare Goods and exhibited at Quirk Gallery.