In 1988, Ron Artman sold his graphics and screen printing business in Washington, DC and moved to Australia. He spent the next three years studying art at the Tafe School in Alice Springs, and ceramics under various Australian masters. While there, Artman showed his work in regional and national invitational and juried exhibitions. His prize winning vessels were acquired by the Araluen Art Center and Sculpture Garden in Alice Springs, which is also home to Artman's seven foot tall storage vessel.
Artman's work has been displayed in Mary Martin Gallery in Charleston, SC. Many corporate and private collections throughout the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and England house Artman's work. Time spent in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Borneo, Vietnam, and the Middle East heavily influences Artman's work. Today he enjoys the peace and solitude of the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Asian art and philosophies have influenced his highly altered forms. The process begins with days spent constructing the large sculptural structures using traditional hand building, wheel, and slab techniques that will ultimately display the deep matte reds, oranges, and yellows that have become a distinctly Artman trademark.
The vessels are then bisque fired to a low temperature allowing the clay body an open, porous structure able to withstand the thermal shock encountered with later firings. Once the bisqued forms are sprayed with a series of glazes, the work is reduction fired in a gas kiln to 2100 degrees Farenheit until the molten sides glow like white hot embers. The colors are purposefully mottled to give the sculptures a weathered, well worn appearance. The firing process takes the clay and glaze elements back to their earliest origins of the earth itself when various materials were being born out of and separated in the molten magma. A rugged texture resulting from deep incising and carving give the forms motion and energy. Artman's vessels depict power, containing life and purpose. Forceful and intense, the immediate impact is a sensibility of strength from all points of view - an acheivement of quiet grace.
Though respectful of its historic origins, Artman's sculpture is different in a number of ways: it is bolder and more aggressive in form and richly flamboyant in scale. Creating such large yet graceful forms requires strength, creative stamina, great skill, and years of experience. The sculptures present many unanswered questions and challenge the viewer to find literal interpretations, through their own experiences, within his abstract designs. The function is often very clear though not understood. Artman's sculptures bridge the primitive and the futuristic to create art that spans many cultures in a generous collective spirit.
Kumming
Selatan
Thai Vessel
Thai - "The Ceremonial Vessel"
"Kumming"
Mary Martin GALLERY 39 Broad Street Charleston, SC 29401 Gallery Row on Historic Broad Street 843-723-0303
