Canice Methe

Candice Methe – guest artist

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Originally from Falmouth, MA., Candice Methe is a studio artist and educator. She has been working in clay for twenty-five years and most recently moved to the Coast of Maine. She received her BFA in Ceramics and Art History from Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. and her MFA from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Inspired by historical objects and traditional ways of making, she has traveled to Japan, Ghana, Nicaragua, Mexico among other places to study the traditional practices of artisans working in clay. In pursuit of her artistic, peripatetic practice she has done residencies long-term and short-term at Santa Fe Clay, Red Lodge Clay Center, the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts and Roswell Artist in Residence Foundation. When not in the studio, she is usually on an adventure somewhere. 

 

The foundation of my work is the presence of the hand. When I coil and pinch the clay I leave marks as I build the forms, which act as a record of intention. Working in this way makes the process slow and allows me to spend time considering how the anatomy of the vessel comes to life through line, form, and surface. With every piece I strive for subtle, soft, surfaces and the deliberate execution of shapes that move between discreet profiles and dramatic contours. While making, I am more interested in an improvised conversation with these components, rather than a pre-conceived formula. The content of these vessels is embedded in this decision as well as the delicate interplay of formal elements and external influences. 

In each piece, there are echoes of historical pottery and yet they exist as contemporary vessels. I find inspiration where the art of indigenous cultures intersect with agriculture and architecture and in the history that permeates ceramic art and its endless possibilities for self-expression. 

The work I make is my soliloquy of simpler times. 

I turn the soil.

I plant the seeds.

I grow the wheat.

I harvest the grain.

I grind the flour.

I trade for the salt.

I collect the water.

I knead the dough.

I coax the fire.

I bake the bread.

Nourishment comes in many forms-labor, vulnerability, connectedness, and desire.  The vessels of clay I make are for sustenance. They are documentation of my intent and signifier of my connection to this life, both past and present. Having the hand present in my work is critical. It is through the element of touch I am able to honor honesty, vibrancy, energy, and humility. 

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candicemethe.com

candicemethe@gmail.com

Rockland, Maine

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