Location. Location. Location.


After much debate I have decided to apply to residencies, focusing on Philly, Baltimore and Minneapolis. There is nothing I want more than to be an artist and create work. I think a change of scenery for a few weeks could be helpful and refreshing. The minute I returned from my NYC trip this year I was immediately shocked back into the reality that is my daily grind. I work more then anyone I know. I find that I place a lot of importance on my career but I worry about it defining who I am as a person. With these thoughts in mind I feel a bit of travel and the opportunity to focus solely on my work and myself is exactly what I need. Most of the residencies I am looking at are for a few weeks or up to three months...and ideal amount of time to work quickly on a new body of work. Especially with a short attention span like mine ;)

I am lucky to have a job and an affordable studio. I'm surrounded by family and friends. I need to take advantage of what I have and not focus on what is missing. That will all fall into place in time. I know I won't be here forever but at the end of the day its not really where you are, its who you are with.

Only When I Have a Deadline

I use a finicky but lovely clay (Standard 240). Its a stoneware but it is almost a half porcelain. Last year I noticed a lot of cracks on the bottoms of mugs and bowls. Simple remedy - dry them upside down in their humidity shelf. Problem solved. This February I was invited to be a show and asked to provide larger pieces. No problem, right? Big problems. For the last 2 months. I kept noticing cracks along the sides just directly above the foot. This was only happening in the pieces with wide bases. I assumed it was one of 2 issues: drying time/method or compression during wedging/throwing.


My hunch was compression so I looked up some tips for throwing large porcelain pieces on the internet. I discovered one remedy was to center the clay, cut it off the wheel, flip it over and re-center thus evening compression throughout the clay. 2 of the 3 pieces like this exploded, of course therefore I only had 1 survivor. It was fine when I took it out of the kiln. A day later I had come back to find it had cracked.

I decided to explore 3 new options all to be fired in the same bisque.
1st. experiment: Use the 182 clay. Slightly grogged and not as pure.
2nd. experiment: 240 with a small percentage of fine grog wedged in.
3rd. experiment: 240 with a large percentage of fine grog wedged in.

My initial concern with using grog was that I like the smooth surface and it suits my glaze palette and aesthetic. In test #3 I could definitely feel it when I threw so I wasn't sure how I would like it once fired. After the bisque firings I learned that it was indeed the clay and not how I was compressing it during the throwing process. The 182 had the highest success rate next to the heavily grogged 240 clay. Some of the light and heavy grogged pieces survived but the 182 did not have an issue with a single piece. After 2 months of struggling it is clear to keep both types of clay hand to use depending on the size and diameter of the piece.

On the bright side after throwing so many large platters and bowls I am now REALLY REALLY good at it!

The Kills - No Wow (2005)

Coolest rock chick, if you ask me...

My doppelganger, I am told.

Progress.

The Art of Learning

I sometimes think I take more from the classroom as a teacher then my students. I have learned a lot about life through ceramics and with class interactions. My students consistently tell me that they love that I am laid back and one even told me I was soothing. Knowing that my friends would laugh and disagree I posted this statement on Facebook. My suspicions were correct. Then I began to wonder how is it that I am one person in the classroom and another person when I walk out the door. How does one begin to reconcile those two personalities?

I need to apply my patience in the classroom to my own life and artwork. I have high expectations for myself. Ceramics continues to kick my ass. I learn something new every week. In the current situation its dealing with my clay cracking issue (another post for another time). It keeps me on my toes and I never know what to expect next. I like that about clay. I generally have a short attention span for most activities and people however I have remained intrigued by clay for over a decade.

Another lesson I have learned is that nothing is permanent. Yes, clay objects have stood the test of time but many pieces never make it off the wheel. Or they do but they die in the bisque. Or they survive and I pull them out of the glaze kiln and accidentally knock a handle off ;)
The point is that nothing is set in stone, even stone. Don't get to attached and don't fear change. Its inevitable and that can be a good thing. Its all about perception.

But the most important lesson I have learned is to have some frickin' fun! With show deadlines its easy to forget to enjoy oneself. Live a little. Make some art, have some fun. Its not about forgetting responsibilities its realizing that there is more to life and that making art is not about the end result. Its about the process.

Goals for 2011

This year was off to a bumpy start but I'm taking it with stride and looking forward to the remainder of the year. I suppose this post should not be limited to this year. These goals are more long term than that.

1. Travel more.
Whether solo or with a partner in crime. Lots to see. I usually get homesick a few days after being on the road. This year's NYC trip was the first time I did not experience that feeling.

2. Become a better artist.
I'm not only dedicating my time to making more art but to continually get better at my craft. Not everything I make is great but its a constant process of streamlining and discovering my voice.

3. Apply for residencies.
This is a combo of goals 1 & 2. Traveling while making art. How could I go wrong?!

4. Gain gallery representation outside of Ohio.
I definitely lack in this area. I have not had the time to dedicate to this task. But with less summer shows its time to take charge!

5. Focus on the present.
I can be an anxious soul. Cart before horse. I need to focus on what I need to get done day to day. Not month to month. I tend to get ahead of myself and become overwhelmed.

My fancy necklace from artist Jamie Spinello has arrived! Check out her shop here.

A Fascination with Analytics

Discovering how people find my Etsy site is fascinating to me. Here are some keywords and phrases that led people to my shop.

lava stones benefit metaphysical - No lava stones were used in making this pottery. Sorry.

grouchy pot - Grouchy? People usually have a much more colorful word to describe me.

how old is gina desantis - 31. You are welcome stalkers.

where to buy cruelty free feathers - No birds were harmed while making this pottery.

steampunk messenger bags - That would be damn heavy in clay.

I heard this on the way home from work today. Forgot about this Joan Jett song.

Trying out some new glazes, shapes and motifs. I like the lavender/blue combo. For some reason the lime has decided it wants to be yellow. Not really a yellow fan. Meh. In case you had not noticed, I prefer the cool tones of the color palette. Onward...

I'm going somewhere with this. I promise. Stay tuned for new things.

Happy Birthday to Me!


I bought myself a little goodie on Etsy. I desperately needed a messenger bag for my travels and of course when I go bike riding across Cleveland with Miss Malorie! I wanted something fun and with some pattern. I found this in my search. Check out Banyan Hippo's Etsy Shop here.
Lots of really cool bags. And considering it shipped from Turkey it wasn't stuck in customs too long. Took about 3-4 weeks to get here and was well worth the wait. Handcrafted very nicely.

I have returned safely from NYC. I had a great time but I'm glad to be home. The studio is calling. Here I am amongst an installation piece at the Met by artist Katrin Sigurdardottir.

Check out my cups at the Kent State Cup Show. I can't make the opening reception (I'll be in NYC!) but you should go and check it out in my absence. From Kent State's Web page.....

Annual Juried Cup Show to Open at Kent State's School of Art Downtown Gallery

Posted Feb. 18, 2011

The 11th Annual National Juried Cup Show will be displayed March 2 - March 26 at the School of Art's Downtown Gallery, located at 141 East Main Street in Kent.

This year's exhibition will feature cups made by KSU alumni from around the nation. All proceeds from sales of the cups will go to help establish a Ceramics Graduate Student Fellowship.

Attendees can purchase a cup at the opening reception on Friday, March 4, from 5-8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Cups will go on sale at 5 p.m., with no presales.

This nationally-promoted annual event was originally sponsored in part by the Kent State University School of Art Department of Ceramics. The internationally-recognized department has continued to be an integral part of the cup show.

The Downtown Gallery is open Wednesday-Friday, noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information contact Director of Galleries, Anderson Turner at 330-672-1369 or haturner@kent.edu.

Spring and Summer Class Dates Announced!



I'm offering a few classes this spring. Please sign up quickly. Class size is limited to 8 students but I must have a minimum of 3 to run a class.

Hand Building (All Levels):
Students will learn a variety of techniques to make bowls, cups and plates with stoneware clay. Coiling and slab building, decorating and glazing will be covered in this four week class. The class fee includes all materials and firings. Work will be available to pick up one to two weeks after the session ends.

Each session is priced at $110. See payment information below.

Spring Session I: Wednesday, evenings, March 23, 30 & April 6 & 13. 6:30pm-8:30pm.
Spring Session II: Wednesday evenings, May 11, 18, 25 & June 1. 7:00pm-9:00pm.
Summer Session I: Thursday evenings, June 2, 9, 16 & 23. 6:30pm-8:30pm.

All classes are held at 13000 Athens Ave, Lakewood, Ohio. Studio 328 (3rd Floor). Email Gina at artzy_grl@yahoo.com to register. Cash, check or credit is accepted at the time of registration.

Refund policy: I need to maintain a certain number of students to run a class. You must cancel no less then one week before the start date of the class or workshop. A $10 processing fee will be deducted if you cancel. Cancellations will less then one week's notice will not receive a refund with the exception of a medical emergency.

3 Good Things

1. I have 3 gallery shows lined up between March and April!
2. Dad is home and on the road to recovery!
3. I am going to NYC in March with neighbor Laura!

All three of these things are awesome and deserve exclamation marks. After a rough start, 2011 is being whipped back into shape and I'm making it my b!t@h.

Does anyone want to buy this for me?
I am in love with this VAN + ELLO necklace on Etsy.

New neighbors in the Lake Erie Building!


I will have my space open this night as well so please stop by! I'm kind of in the midst of new work but there will be some stuff for sale and my seconds sale items still have some pickins' left!

I would rather be a redhead...

A fake one but alas I was *blessed* with pasty white skin. And the Cleveland lack of sun climate does help me stay oh so pale. I've been blonde, brunette and now red for awhile. I think it suits me best. Also most of the music I enjoy is by the redheads. Go figure. Can you blame me?

Tori Amos, My original redheaded heroine.

Shirley Manson

Melissa Auf Der Maur

Kate Nash

And my current favorite redhead, Florence Welch (of Florence + the Machine)