Are there any goals that you ’ re working toward with your art ?
Eventually , I want to earn a Master ’ s degree , and I want to be a good candidate for an assistantship or a scholarship . So I ’ m seeking to build up my portfolio as much as I can , along with my resume and CV . I ’ m in a good place right now with my portfolio , but I want to get even better – I want to be able to include a different body of work there , different forms from the ones I worked with during my senior show . I ’ m also applying to as many art shows as I can , and I ’ m submitting to as many art magazines as I can .
How do you find the shows and opportunities that you apply for ?
I ’ ve browsed websites online and Instagram too , but personal connections are the most important means of discovering opportunities . I still have really good connections with the professors at Georgia Southwestern , and they send me information , they encourage me to apply to different things . They think my body of work is substantial and they want me to go far .
If you could sit down with any artist , living or dead , for a cup of tea and some conversation , who would it be and what would y ’ all talk about ?
That ’ s a really good one . Probably Tony Marsh . He ’ s a ceramics artist . And his forms are so insane . His surface textures are wild , I have no clue what he does to achieve them . But they ’ re just so unique . He mixes so many different glazes , he straight up adds rocks to his glazes , and he fires everything multiple times to get these crazy surfaces . His pieces have so much texture and detail .
I ’ d want to ask him , how did you do this ? Just how do you apply your glazes ? What inspired you today ? Because his forms are super organic . They look like you could have picked them up off the ground in a canyon or a cave . I wonder , how do you make something with your own hands that looks like it has always existed that way , like it arose from organic processes ? Some of his ceramic vessels look like they were just excavated , straight out of the ground .
Are there any songs , books , other works of art that are giving you inspiration right now ?
I listen to a lot of instrumental music ! I do listen to podcasts when I work , as well . But yeah , in terms of inspiration , instrumental music is where it ’ s at for me .
How do you see art and community as interconnected with one another ?
The community is what makes art , what makes the Arts Center what it is . If you don ’ t have community , people to look at and engage with your art , in a way you ’ re sitting with it all alone . I think art should be shown , it should be seen , it ’ s not just for the elite , it ’ s for everyone .
Unfortunately , not everyone gets the chance to dive into art . We ’ re working to change that a bit at the Arts Center , we ’ re looking to diversify our workshops and reach out to different parts of the community , like teachers , the elderly , and low-income communities .
Will you be at the Calico Arts & Crafts Show in the spring or the autumn ?
I might apply for these shows next year , when I have my feet planted solid where I stand , so to speak . Right now , since I just started as a curator , since I ’ m leading these workshops on the side , there ’ s just too much going on !
I will be at two events the Arts Center will host later in the year : the Arts Fest in November and the seasonal art show in December .
I suppose those are events where artists and crafters showcase their work ?
Yes , there ’ s a great list of vendors : ceramic artists , painters , woodturners , and more . At the Christmastime market , handmade ornaments , Christmas cards , and other little gifts are available for sale . The specific dates for these festivals will be announced later in the year .
Is there a place that members of the community can view and maybe purchase your work ?
Find me online – I just launched a website ! ambermoorearts . com . I ’ m also on Instagram as @ skywardfalling . If anyone is interested in commissions , it ’ s best to send me an email : ambermoorearts @ gmail . com . Thanks for asking !
This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity .
JUNE 2022 MoultrieScene 89