Matt Gaddie, a clay artist and recent graduate with a M.F.A. in ceramics from the
University
of
Kentucky
is Bernheim’s 2006 Community Artist. Matt has worked at Bernheim
in the past as 2004 Art Intern; he now returns as community artist and
serves as kiln-master for the double-hump wood fired kiln located at
the Knobs Wilderness Center. Matt’s experience and enthusiasm is
a perfect fit for Bernheim’s wood-fired kiln projects and his focus
has been on the development of an endowed fellowship for the wood-fired
kiln located in Bernheim’s Research forest, more on that later!
Matt has researched the equipment needs
and developed a proposed budget for potential grant submissions. He
met with the artists involved in building the kiln, Louisville Clay
Group, and the staff of Louisville Stoneware in an attempt to access
the needs of the local arts community as well as potentially to draw
national and international audiences. Matt has also been instrumental
in the development and writing of a collaborative fellowship grant
involving Bethlehem High School in Bardstown, KY.
Bethlehem High School / Bernheim Collaborative
Clay Tile Project
The premise of this collaborative
project is for
Bethlehem
high school students to partner with Bernheim Arboretum under the leadership
of clay artist Matthew Gaddie to create clay tiles that will visually
enhance an ordinary concrete water collection tank located at the new
Visitor’s Center at Bernheim. The visual theme for the clay tiles
is texture derived from natural indigenous material collected from the
grounds of Bernheim and applied to the tiles. The tiles will be rubbed
with oxides to produce a natural finish, fired and then installed on
the outside and inside of the collection tank.
Matt Gaddie lectured the students
concerning basics types of clay bodies and the principles involved
in the clay process. The procedure for creating uniform tiles
was demonstrated to the students. Matt has incorporated a compositional
parameter for the project relating to the textural dynamics of the
tiles. Each student selects a natural material that will produce a
texture when rolled or pressed into their first tile. Each additional
tile will receive the initial texture plus another texture until the
student has created 6 tiles. In addition to the natural material
creating texture, the students will develop and apply their own unique
textures on the second and fourth tiles as the sequential process builds.
Compositional problems and method for application of textures will require
planning on the student’s part as the building process becomes
more elaborate. After the tiles are leather dry, the edges are beveled
for a more finished look and when the tiles are bone dry the bisque firing
will occur. The tiles will then be rubbed with oxides and receive
their final firing and will be ready for the installation process.
After the tiles are all made, the students
will have the opportunity to create clay objects utilizing the hand
building method. The finished pieces will be fired in the wood
firing kiln located at Bernheim in November. The students will be involved
in the tile installation and also have the opportunity to help with
the cleaning preparation and firing of the wood fired kiln. Installation
of the finished tiles near Bernheim’s new
Visitor
Center
is scheduled for summer 2006.
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