Watching the sky has proven to be a useful anchor during many difficult seasons of my life. In recent years, grief has made its difficult presence known to me and immensely to the world we live in. Witnessing the sky and celestial bodies that live in it has been an awe-seeking practice for me to process the effects that grief has had on me emotionally and physically. I spend a lot of time looking at the sky’s colors and shapes. This is reflected in the various textures, colors, gradients, and titles of these ceramic works. I hope that when you look at my work, you can create the space that the sky often creates for my mind- a space for your mind to rest, wander, and heal.
These works were created within the last three years- some entities of their own, and others part of a larger body of work. Each piece is made by hand, often given hand painted and stenciled designs before the first firing process. The ceramic is fired a second time in a glaze firing that gives it the rich, sometimes shiny, sometimes milky colors and patterns you see now.
Thank you to the Shudio team for being an endless and bountiful source of light and support!!
Bio
Maddie Vaccaro, she/they (b.1993, BFA SAIC 2016) is a queer artist, educator, armchair philosopher, and curious person living and working in Chicago, IL. From singing songs to her cat to documenting the moon, she tries to bring art and levity into her everyday. Her work takes physical form through fiber, ceramic, woodworking and sculpture. She has exhibited work at Co-Prosperity, Woman Made Gallery, MDW Fair, the Flat Iron Arts Building, Columbia College Chicago, and at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has worked with other artists through facilitation and education with Sector 2337, Monarch Art and Wellness Fair, Arts + Public Life, and currently works with students at Columbia College Chicago.
