Ceramics and Art History/Criticism

e-mail: randi.obrien@umontana.edu
blog: rosettastonecraft.blogspot.com

Bio

Raised in the Colorado Rocky Mountains I have a strong appreciation for the blue collar work ethic of the tradesman and strive for a life satisfied with journey’s, story’s, and family. With an unending passion for adventure and leading people to excitement I have found myself guiding white water, fly fishing, and skiing for years on countless trips on rivers and mountains from Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Alaska, and Montana. My life is much similar to the wheel I work with in the studio, it rarely stops turning, and is continually building a platform to tell the story of the day.

Statement

The appeal of Art work that can be used, and can be chosen as a favorite among others in our daily rituals; to me, becomes a philosophy in Art that I feel is incredibly valuable and dictates the how and why of my functional work. The bond of functional Art and culture is undoubtedly the foundation of my work. While producing functional ceramics, I am compelled to commemorate my understanding of the aesthetic for relationships and bonds. The relationship of process vs. aesthetic, the relationship of unification through separation. Not only how these subjects versus each other but how they mold and form each other to create a memory, sensation, and a uniqueness formed by the bond of occasion.