cups

We tag teamed these cups while in china and they are quite a thing, I kind of hope they don't sell, but I always say that then regret it.

casting

Studio image from Jingdezhen China, December 2015.

Future Retrieval x Chris Vorhees

Day

Night

(pre tearing off the plastic wrap from the black mirror finish - which totally photographs like a mirror)

A few images from our exhibition at The Sculpture Center in Cleveland with Chris Vorhees, curated by James Barker, September 17th - October 23rd 2015. We were finally(!) able to show our monolith - Image of Order that we built at Bemis with Chris Vorhees, and added a couple more collaborative objects into the mix. 

Post Local

Welcome to the year of the monkey! Image from our exhibition "Post Local" at the Mufei Gallery in Jingdezhen China, which just closed today. We have been in and out of the country for the last couple of months, and have sadly let this blog lag a little...

Paradise Valley

"Paradise Valley" (day and night)
Porcelain, handcut paper, LEDs, wood, plexiglass
28" x 26" x 10"
Made in collaboration with Chris Vorhees, currently on view at The Sculpture Center

street cred

We have some cool studio vibes happening with all our recent neon projects... more in the works.

in the works

We are currently working on a series of vases, made in collaboration with painter Amanda Valdez. This collaboration started at Watershed this summer, and will continue over the next couple of months. The idea is combine both of our painting styles along with thrown forms to create one off pieces that reflect our individual practice but read as something in between art and design. These are just a couple examples of the first pieces made at Watershed.

future retrieval x chris vorhees

Last summer while at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts we made an ode to 2001:A Space Odyssey with Chris Vorhees, who is an amazing fabricator and artist. The final project is a monolith on wheels, that opens to reveal a room in an alternate future. This piece was shipped from Omaha to Cincinnati, and we haven't shown it to anyone. We are very excited to announce that finally have a show lined up at The Sculpture Center in Cleveland opening in mid September, where we will debut this piece along with several new works that have a space(ey) feel.

vacation

We recently finished 60 polaroid lithophanes for The Carnegie's summer CSA program. The image was taken at Joshua Tree, where we spent time while on a cross country road trip a couple summers ago. This is our tiny homage.

back to glaze

Mike had been testing glazes all summer making it super exciting to unload a kiln these days. Also - Mike is finally using instagram!

collaborating

We are currently working with Jordan Tate on a series of pieces that combine both of our interests - decorative objects seen through a photographic lens and output through alternative means. None of us quite know where is this is going which is what keeps the images interesting.

working in the studio

Mike's eyes are saying "you better not post this on instagram".
Side note: you should totally follow us on instagram - @katieparker101 and @guymdavis

the aforementioned porcelain plant forms

Mike took some amazing photos of our growing (ha!) bonsai and plant collection. We have a couple new shapes in the works, that will start to mix with our hand cut paper pieces very soon.

hand cut paper landscapes

We are working on a new landscape series - using hand cut paper backgrounds that sort of mimic block printed wallpaper. These landscapes will be combined with porcelain plant forms to create a 1960s/future scenic (hopefully). 

21C Durham - White Light by Future Retrieval

A few installation images above of "White Light" for 21C Durham. This project is our largest to date, and we are so proud of the final results. We installed 18 porcelain, neon, and cut paper chandeliers above the bar in the Counting House, (21C Durham's in house restaurant) along with 450 balls of die cut paper bunting. Insane.

until we get back to Durham...  a couple more photos found online of The Counting House bar in full swing.

future bonsai

"An Epic Drama of Adventure and Exploration" 

porcelain, neon, wood, and Formica

70" x 48" x 22"

2015

On view at Clay Street Press until early May. 

handmade in china II

We are getting our pieces together for Handmade in China II, which opens this Friday at Clay Street Press in Cincinnati. The lithophane above is our largest to date, and we are messing around with colored neon backgrounds to make the image a little more ominous.

Lamination Proclamation

A new take on the ovals, this time with Formica!

Monkey Flutist

Symmetry and is on the mind in the studio, probably still something about Kubrick and surrealism, plus we are already preparing for the year of the monkey.

patiently waiting

On our bonsais that are currently on the slow boat from China. We just finished up a giant install in Durham NC along with a solo show in Ann Arbor MI, and so the itch begins to start something new. Any day now seven boxes of new work will magically arrive, so until then...

studio

currently in the studio - a minor obsession with gold leaf

new york ceramics fair 2015

Our bonsai sculptures are heading to the New York Ceramics and Glass Fair next week courtesy of Ferrin Contemporary and Made in China: The New Export Ware. We made this work 3 weeks ago (!) in Jingdezhen China, which is totally insane because these pieces have been on the road ever since. This is the beginning of a new line of work with a sci-fi feel, which will become more apparent as we start to flesh out backgrounds and display. 

"Bonsai, From '93 Till #1 and #2"

pvd

We are just arriving home from Jingdezhen China and starting to unpack and process our whirlwind studio experience. Above are a couple of our bonsai trees in the studio fresh from the PVD, shiny enough to make Jeff Koons very proud.

science fiction

Mike carved these sci-fi bonsai by hand to cast in Jingdezhen for the next few weeks. This is the first test batch from the kiln, and I am beyond impressed. We are starting to work on the surface now - adding pattern and color to really push them over the edge.

up next

We are leaving for Jingdezhen China in eight hours, and have big plans to hit the ground running. This semester has been insane, and we have been working non-stop on some of our largest projects to date. For the next three weeks we won't slow down per se, but we will have time to explore and get a little weird in the studio.

GRAND THEFT at The Carnegie

This one is permanent 

                                                 
                                                   
                                                           
                                               

coming soon

Finally starting to catch up with life after the opening of Grand Theft for Fotofocus, almost 2 weeks ago at The Carnegie. We will post images of the final installations very soon.