Flirting with Function

Chapter 11
 Flirting with Function

• Artists often work along the boundary

between art and useful objects
• Some artworks challenge our ideas of
usefulness
• Some artworks resemble useful objects
but might not actually be usable
 Clay

• Clay comes from soil mixed with water

• Ceramics are objects made from clay
– A ceramist works with clay
– A potter specializes in making dishes
• A kiln is a large oven used to bake the clay
– This is called firing
• Types of clays
– Earthenware-fired at a low temperature and is
pourous. Varies in color from red to brown to tan
– Stoneware-fired at a higher temperature and is not
pourous. It is usually gray or brown
– Porcelain-rare and expensive. Fired at a high
temperature and not pourous.
 Clay

• Throwing-shaping clay on a rapidly

revolving wheel
• Slip-mixture of clay and water colored
with earthen powders
• Glaze-liquid paint that turns to a
glasslike substance when fired
Adrian Saxe. Les Rois du Monde Futur (Rulers of the Future World). 2004.
26-1/4" × 13-1/4" × 10".

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Peter Voulkos. Untitled Plate CR952. 1989.
20-1/2" × 4-1/2".

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Toshiko Takaezu. Makaha Blue II. 2002.
48" × 18-1/2".

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 Glass

• Hot or molten glass is a material that is

shaped by blowing, casting, or pressing
into molds
• After glass is shaped, it can be cut,
etched, fused, laminated, layered,
leaded, painted, polished, sandblasted,
or slumped
Dale Chihuly. Mauve Seaform Set with Black Lip Wraps from
the "Seaforms" Series. 1985.

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 Metal

• Metal’s main attributes are strength and

formability
• Metals can be hammered, cut, drawn
out, welded, joined with rivets, or cast
• Metal was used early on for tools,
vessels, armor, and weapons
 d’Arenberg Basin. 1247–1249.
22.5 × 50.0 cm.

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 Cal Lane. Untitled (Map 3). 2007.
78-1/2" × 71-3/4".

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 Wood

• Wood has a feeling of individuality due

to the unique grain of each tree
• Has a warm, tictile quality
Henry Gilpin. Curiously Red. 2006.
36" × 74" × 16".

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 Maya Lin. Terra Table. 2009.

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 Fiber

• Fiber arts includes: weaving, stitching,

basket-making, wearable art, and
papermaking.
• Weaving is based on interlacing fibers
– Warp-long fibers
– Weft-crosses the warp fibers
– Loom-hold fibers apart for weaving
 The Ardabil Carpet. Tabriz. 1540.
34' × 17'6".

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 Nick Cave. Soundsuit. 2009.
Height 7'.

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Jessie Pettway. Bars and String-Piece Columns. 1950s.
95" × 76".

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 Polly Apfelbaum. Blossom. 2000.
Diameter 18'.

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