We've got an incredible artist featured this month! Our January Artist of the Month is David Gilbaugh. I've known David for a long time through Gather, and have always been impressed with his art. Now we've got a chance to share it with our Wandering Educators! We were lucky enough to sit down and chat with David, about his art, and more. Here's what he had to say...
The Imaginist - in creation
The IMAGINIST
BEST SCULPTURE," DIVERSITY IN CLAY EXHIBIT, The AmericanMuseum of Ceramic Arts (AMOCA)
HONORABLE MENTION - First Annual pre-Simulationist Visual Arts Contest
Form: stoneware tectonic sculpture
Dimensions: 24”(W) X 47”(H) wet; 21” X 33” fired
Construction: hand-built using tectonic method
Medium: stoneware, top: B-mix with grog, base: Fat Red
WE: Please tell us about your art...
DG: I create tectonic sculptures that range from trompe l’oeil tree stumps to earthy impressionistic forms. I describe my organic sculptures as Tectonic Sculptures because of the methods I use to create them. I form them using the same forces that shape and texture the earth’s crust in an exploration of my own physical and social space. When creating them I mark smooth surfaces of clay cut in chunks from the block. I typically thrust the marked clay downward from over my head onto the table top or floor to impact it and give it its shape and to give rise to textures that emerge out of the markings. Some observe me working and judge my methods as raw and hapless expression; which is not the case. Rather, I think of it a result of years of practice and method applied in an expression of focused spontaneity.
As an artist, I am a member of the "pre-Simulationist movement," a
virtual avant-garde group for the discussion of modern problems such as
maintaining the authentic human experience, the value of genuine face to
face human relationships, and the necessity of the real life community in
the approaching virtual age. Among the group is one man in particular who
has been a great inspiration to me, he is a brilliant scholar and
philosopher named John F. Walter. He is the primary founder the
pre-Simulationist movement.
I also need to recognize a trompe l'oeil ceramic artist out of New York, his
work has been my primary model and inspiration to me; Erick Serritella. See
http://ericserritella.com/
WHITE OAK T-POT
2009
Artist: David D. Gilbaugh
Form: trompe l’oeil stoneware t-pot
Dimensions: 4.5”(W) X 5”(H)
Construction: hand-built
Medium: B-mix paper clay, porcelain slip veneer
FRIEND
2009
Form: trompe l’oeil stoneware t-pot
Dimensions: 3”X3”
Construction: hand built, tectonic method
WE: How/when did you start becoming an artist?
DG: My first step toward becoming an artist was at age five after my kindergarten teacher gave special attention to one of my drawings and called my parents to have a conference about the picture and my potential as an artist. Since my father was an artist he was very excited about my talents and at age eight I remember him teaching me how to paint landscapes and sculpt with plaster. At age ten my father gave me a large chunk of alabaster and said I could carve it if I wanted. I carved a face into it and I placed it beside the entry porch of our home where it remained for many years until we moved away. In Jr. High school and high school I regularly took art classes and learned to sculpt and throw pottery. After high school I continued doing pottery at the local community college for two more years after until I graduated with my A.S. in General Education with a minor in Fine Arts in 1977. That same year I married, and went to work full time for Pepsi Cola. It was 29 years before before I would do my art again. Four years ago, in 2006, I began studying ceramics a second time at age 50 at Glendale Community College in Glendale, CA. What is seen here in this article is some of my work from that period.
RED TOWER
2009
Form: tectonic stoneware sculpture
Dimensions: 10”(W) X 12”(H)
Construction: hand built, cone 10 reduction
Bearded Ghoul
"BEST SCULPTURE"
ACS-DC CERAMIC FESTIVAL at the LA ARBORETUM
2009
Form: sculpted lamp base
Dimensions: 11”(W) X 21”(H)
Construction: hand-built slab and coil
Medium: B-mix with grog, cone 10 reduction
Finish: cobalt stain in crevices, washed iron and rutile stain on surfaces
WE: What do you draw inspiration from?
DG: I get inspiration from my own life experience and from nature. I use photography to help me record the subjects I want to sculpt and my poetry to explore my conscious experience of those subjects. But there is also the sculpture itself; once I begin sculpting, the sculpture itself becomes an inspiration and my imagination begins responding directly to it as a primary source. At that point there are very few decisions to be made outside of the technical aspects of construction; I simply continue working on the piece until it is right, that being the full depth of my authentic emotional response to the subject.
BILBO’S MUG
Form: trompe l’oeil stoneware cup
Construction: hand built, tectonic method, cone 10 stoneware
Dimensions: 5”X 5”
FAMILY TREE
2009
Form: tectonic stoneware sculpture
Dimensions: 6.5”(W) X 11.5”(H)
Construction: hand built, cone 10 reduction
WE: Where are your favorite places to create art?
DG: My photography is done in wilderness parks and in public places, my poetry is written at home at my computer, and my sculpting is done primarily at my home studio. I do my pottery mostly at the local community college while surrounded with other artists and friends.
A MAN AT TEN #1 2008
This is dedicated to Dr. Jay Atlas at PomonaCollege, Department of Philosophy. You are a brilliant scholar, friend, and philanthropist.
Thank you for your support of the pre-Simulationist Movement and generosity to our genius friend and originator of the movement, John F. Walter.
Form: tectonic stoneware figurine
Dimensions: 2”X 6"
Porcelain face
Construction: hand built, cone 10 reduction
A MAN AT TEN, was inspired by the short story by the same name about a boy who loses his identity to his internet avatar, and his mother who was the cause of the crisis and his salvation.
SIREN
2008
Form: tectonic stoneware lamp base
Dimensions: 11”(W) X 17”(H)
Construction: hand built, cone 10 reduction
WE: What do you enjoy creating most?
DG: I most enjoy sculpting large oak stumps and abstract organic forms using my Tectonic Method.
ELEPHANT FOOT (Driftwood Fountain)
2008
Form: trompe l’oeil stoneware fountain
Construction: sculpted stoneware
Dimensions: 14" X 22”
WE: How can readers find and purchase your art?
DG: My work can be viewed on:
David D. Gilbaugh on Flicker.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/daviddgilbaugh/
Links to some of my poetry:
DANNY DEE AND THE OAKS THAT CROAK (C)
My work can be purchased at local art fairs, directly from me by email at dgilbaugh[at]earthlink.net, and at the following art Galleries:
Majestical Roof Gallery
Pasadena, Ca
White’s Gallery
Montrose California
Sycamore Teapot
2010
Form: trompe l’oeil stoneware t-pot
Dimensions: 4.5” (W) X 5”(H)
Construction: hand-built
Medium: B-mix paper clay, porcelain slip veneer
WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
DG: I teach the Tectonic Method and other techniques in my sculptural ceramics workshops. My next workshop will address sculptural T-Pots and will be held at the Community Center of La Canada Flintridge, CA on Saturday, January 23rd, 2009. This is the second in a series of workshops on tectonic forms and textures in clay that will be held once a month for the next six months.
ARAGON’S CUP
2007
Reina’s series #1
Form: carved ceramic cup
Construction: thrown stoneware, cone 10
Dimensions: 4” X 5””
Also, below is a review of an educational workshop that I conducted for Laguna Clay at the California Art Education Association (CAEA) Conference on November 13th, 2009.
Paper Clay in the Classroom - A workshop by David D. Gilbaugh, A Reflection by Jennifer Koons from CaliforniaArt Education Association (CAEA) Conference, Los Angeles, 2009
Workshop: Paper Clay in the Classroom sponsored by Laguna Clay Co., Friday, November 13, 2009
Project: Paper Clay Totem by Presenter David Gilbaugh
ORANGE OAK STUMP
2008
Accepted at the juried selection from 70+ artists at the AMOCA / ACS-DC Diversity in Clay Exhibit 2009
Form: trompe l’oeil stoneware lamp base
Dimensions 9” (w) X 17”(H)
Construction slab and coil
Medium B-mix with grog, cone 10 reduction
WE: Thanks so very much, David! Your work - in all forms - is extraordinary.
EARTHENWARE BOWL
2006
Form: decorative bowl
Dimensions: 10”(W)X5”(H)
Construction: low-fired earthenware, thrown
All photos courtesy and copyright David Gilbaugh.
Feature photo: David D. Gilbaugh
2009
Self Portrait
Black and white digital photograph