Jasper and Sherds
Brant Weiland
Porcelain
Art Dimensions: 16" x 12" x 12"
Exhibition - Iowa Clay Conference | River 2 River
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Artist Statement
I'm interested in the way a physical collection preserves and forms connections so I can better understand how objects influence an individual's perception of place and identity. My explorations stem from a curiosity of heirlooms, trophy cases, and the debris scattered around my family's farm. This culminates as I consider historical examples of collections and form my aesthetic response, acknowledging the contributing factors that are built upon layers of lived experience and chance. Pulling from both systematic organization and the informal excavations of my surroundings to set the guidelines, my collections show how a grouping of objects inherently forms a narrative through touchstones of personal memory. I utilize mold-making primarily for its ability to borrow from the world, reproducing impressions from slip morphs objects into ghostly echoes, oscillating between the universal and the individual. Practicing different formats lets me play with the role of curation, each time holding a mirror to what I find important, simultaneously reflecting a bit of myself as well.
Artist Biography
Brant Weiland earned his Masters of Fine Art at the University of Iowa, completed a Postbacc program at the University of Arkansas and received a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Northwest Missouri State University focusing on ceramics and sculpture. He has shown work throughout the U.S. and taken part in residencies at Penland, Red Lodge, OxBow, and Chautauqua. Raised on a farm in Northern Iowa, he has had a lifelong curiosity about his connection to the land and the items that resonate with his family’s story. This has led him to investigate the role of collections, personal heirlooms, and the recreation of objects from memories. He is a frequent traveler and an avid mountain biker, constantly seeking new experiences to share with his partner and discovering the potential his bike tires can yield.
