Allison Anne Brown
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UPCOMING EXHIBTION: oRDERS OF inSTINCT

1/17/2017

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Don't miss this upcoming duo exhibition with my past studio-mate and close friend Megan Heuse! with at the Artistry Workshops and Gallery coming up this First Friday in February!

Opening Reception:
First Friday, February 3rd, 6-10pm
Exhbition Dates: February 3rd to 28th

Aristry Workshops and Gallery
12 Anderws St.
Greenville, SC 29601

Description:
​ An exhibition of works making connections between nature and the societal orders and limitations shaping and conditioning human behavior. Instinct, control, expression, and response come together to show a collection of the overall human condition through the eyes of artists, Allison Anne Brown and Megan Heuse.


I've got some wonderful new work to share!
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INtroducing Greenville Underworld

10/15/2015

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'I proudly introduce you to my new video project: Greenville Underworld. GUW  is a local video blog that covers local underground arts and culture that would normally not get good coverage. It exposes the wild, wonderful and beautiful arts here in the upstate. GUW is run as a collaborative project by local artists and art appreciators.   Subscribe to Greenville Underworlds Youtube channel and RSS Feed to get updated on the latest articles, photos, and videos. 
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Artist Spotlight on Studio 62

1/19/2015

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Last week I was invited to talk about my artwork on a great local variety show Studio62! I had ample time to talk about both my pottery and my sculpture over two segments check out the videos below!

Below is the video on my sculpture:

There was also plenty of time for a segment on my functional jewelry and pottery check it out below:

Make sure follow Studio62 and Jamarcus Gaston, the wonderful host of the show, on his instagram!
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Off the Pedestal and Into the Fire

12/17/2014

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For this month's Issue of Fete Magazine I wrote an article on Greenville's budding art scene. The article successes on sculpture and public events. Artists Carey Morton, Kymberly Day, and Ryan Callaway are featured. Its a great read and I suggested checking it out if you are looking for great things to follow and events to attend in the Upstate. 

Read the Article HERE!!!

The article talks about the Grandfather Tree installation featured at Rusted Palace Event at the Taylor's Mill held in April, The Phoenix Sculpture Featured in Vulcanalia at the Artisty Downtown. It also mentions local sculptor Kymberly Day and her Masks. 
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The Phoenix Sculpture by Carey Morton Burning at Vulcanaia
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Blog  Hop- Allison Anne Brown and Alice Ballard

11/19/2014

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Thanks to Christina Laurel  for asking me to participate in a Blog Hop with this impressive series of artists. I always enjoy the opportunity to be introduced to new work---- plus Blog hops are a great way of getting exposure to an audience that might not normally see your work but still have an interest.  I have chosen to write about Alice Ballard  and her lovely nature-based ceramic work. I have know Alice since the beginning of my ceramics career and her work still remains a constant inspiration.

I highly recommend looking back through the chain of posts, there are some really amazing artists represented!

The hop was started by Kathy Loomis, see her blog here.
And make sure to read Christina's post in her Blog.

Now to answers some questions about myself:

1.  What am I working on?
At this point in time I find myself working on a large number of different projects ranging from life-size ceramic sculpture to mold pressed jewelry pieces. For this stage in my career, I am still testing the waters and experimenting with new mediums and processes. I am also trying to refine my art-making process so that it can be more affordable and more available. Between that idea and my desire to create conceptual, high skill, work I am all over the place in the studio.

I do no think this is a bad thing. Because I am creating more parameters for my studio time, I am forcing myself to tailor what is coming out of my studio; I have to be more specific about what I spend my time on.  The fun part about it is that I am experimenting with other materials and processes instead of just making solely ceramic work or using traditional processes..
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Icon, 9 x 12" , ink, paint, graphite, geso and, colored pencil, October 2014
My drawings have become a way of experimenting with materials and gesture. On any given drawing that I have produced in the past few years I have used at least 3 different materials to mark with.  When working on these pieces, I let myself enjoy the materials and the process of mark making. From the drawings I get a really good idea of what I want the tone, the textures, and the sensibility of my work to be.  Currently my drawings are either completely abstract or they have minimal subject matter in them.
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The Lake, Clay, Paint, Kyanite, Summer 2014
My sculpture is a bit more literal. I have been trying to work with the full figure as much as possible. The space that it occupies holds more presence than smaller pieces, and presence is a very important part of the vitality of my work.  I have made 3 sculptures of this nature this year and each one had a very specific possession of the space that it was/is displayed in.

While my sculpture still remains figurative, it too has seen a shift in materials. All my new pieces have some sort of non-ceramic material in them. I have become very interested in texture and the tactility of different materials.

Sculpture will always be my most rewarding form of creation but it is also the most difficult to sell. I have started a series of design work with ceramics to supplement my other studio work.
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This work has it's own distinct style yet still appeals to a wide variety of aesthetic interests.  Inspired by ancient Jomon pottery, nature, and my mentor Alice, my design work has an endless number of applications. There is always a new way to approach this style and I enjoy coming up with new ways to present it.

I have also recently landed a large scale tile wall piece commission with BMW and that will be taking up much of my time in the beginning of next year.  
2.  How does my work differ from others of its genre?

This question is a bit tricky. For my sculptural work my pieces are constructed in very unconventional methods and they also have a simplicity and mood that seems to be very different than other ceramic artists. In my process, for example, I build solid instead of slap or coil building,  I cold finish with paint and other materials instead of using glaze, and I use a lot of epoxy, a lot.  Instead of trying use more contemporary aesthetics such as bright colors or modern objects, my work tries to reach back in time or to be timeless. I turn to ancient Egyptian and classical work to inspire my form and materials.  I also use unconventional and at times, unpractical, materials such as glitter, dyed Spanish moss, or junk.----  I don't know of any ceramic artists who use glitter.

3.  Why do I do what I do?


 There are so many reasons. Art is endlessly rewarding. Besides truly believing that exposure to art increases intelligence, problem solving, flexibly , and  happiness, it also awards me a great number of fantastic opportunities.  Artists have the unique luxury of associating with people in all kinds of places doing all kinds of things.

As far as my process goes, making sculpture in the method that I do is constantly changing, it is never dull or static. It keeps me moving and learning and improving myself. I am constantly having to meet people, practice, and research to accomplish what I desire. The end result is an tangible expression of that process that I can share with others.  It is a true way of connecting with myself and my environment. 


4.  How does my process work?

I usually think about a piece I want to make for a while before I begin. Sometimes ideas come to me during everyday life, usually during reflective moments, and sometimes I come upon them in lucid dreams. After I have the beginnings of an idea, I spend a great deal of time thinking about it. Often times I will supplement this thinking with research or field trips. Once I have an idea in my head, I gather all the necessary materials to begin, sometimes that involves a drawing or some photographs, often it involves a model. I have no set method of working, every project is different.  I will often try to imitate other artists processes to keep things interested in the studio as well.

Introducing Alice Ballard!
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Alice is a sculptural ceramic artist working out of Greenville South Carolina. She is currently teacher at Christ Church Middle School and has also taught at South Carolina Governor's School, were I had the honor of meeting her, and many high end craft schools all over the county such as Arrowmont and Penland.

Alice's work is inspired by forms found in nature, and much of her artistic process is related to interacting with nature itself. She has a splendid garden and collection of found natural objects.  To me Alice's work speaks about harmony, how she balances art-making teaching, and working in her garden, speaks to the nature of her work. I am constantly learning from her way of life--- Alice has found a wonderful marriage of work and pleasure!

Besides being an accomplished artist, Alice is an excellent educator. I myself have personally greatly benefited from her knowledge. She has a naturally nurturing personality that comes through in both her artwork and in the classroom.  The inspiration that she has passed on to her students will last for generations.
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A collection of Alice's sculptural forms with some of her found natural objects.
Alice currently has an exhibition at the Greenville County Museum of art that I highly recommend seeing. Keep an eye out for her blog post in the blog hop!

Alice's Blog can be found here, She updates it quite regularly and is well worth a subscription.
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Fête Cover Artist

6/3/2014

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During the latest May 2014 Issue of Fete Magazine, I was featured as the Cover artist. Fete is an online eMagazine covering arts and entertainment in the Greenville upstate area, What an honor! Here is a link to Fete Online. Make sure to check the archived issues after this month to see the article.  Special Thanks to Jay Spivey and Fete supporters!
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Rusted Palace: Grand Art and Music Show

4/13/2014

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Last Friday April 4, myself and a group of other local artists and performers hosted the Rusted  Palace: Grand Art and Music Show at  The Taylor's Mill. It was the first show of its kind  within the old bleachery building complex with an estimated 250 guests! This event event involved an art show and installation showing during the First Fridays studio tour with a music and dance performance that followed at 9 p.m.  
For the show, sculptor Carey Morton and I built a large installation. The bulk of the installation was fabricated from tree branches found on the mill property. Called, The Grandfather Tree, the sculpture featured the face of the mill's landlord, Kenneth Walker, who has been instrumental in allowing artists to flourish at the mill.  The piece takes up over 15' of the wall in the performance space and towers over 10' high.  Our artist sensibilities made a powerful combination in the finished incarnation of this piece; It was so exciting to see it come together.
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The Grandfather Tree Installation
Local bands Wasted Wine and Morgan of the Pines provided the music entertainment accompanied by dance by Discordia Arts.  I must say the combination of the music and dance with our sculpture in the background was a quite impressive, and made a unique synthesized arts experience. The show was incredibly rewarding to work on; I can't wait to get started on our next project. The mill itself is inspirational and I know artists like us will continue to do amazing things there. 
All Photo Credit: John-Paul Newton
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First Greenville OPen Studios!

11/15/2013

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A Full Weekend of Awesome!
PictureHatsheput, Sculpture in progress
The first weekend this November was my first time participating in the local Metropolitan Arts Council's Open Studios Event. I had 460 visitors to my studio and  many wonderful conversations about my work! Sleeping Beauty  and Hatsheput (still in progress) were on display and I got many interesting reactions, I love what I do!

Since my studio is located at the Mill in Taylors, there were many other artists grouped in the same place. Visitors were able to see a variety of artist, very convenient!

I also had the honor of having two wonderful local musicians play during the event as guest artists! Lynne "Clide" Holcombe, a wonderful songwriter and banjoist and Rex Akins of Morgan of the Pines! Please check out their wondrous music.

Open Studios is a wonderful opportunity for people to come see the way artists work. If you  haven't participated as an artist or a visitor already, I highly suggest it! MAC is also hosting a wonderful exhibition, All Squared Away, in their headquarters downtown that includes most of the participating artists. that show should be up till December 6th. It's a great retrospective of local Greenville upstate artists and I highly recommend it!

If you miss out on open studios this year, do not fear! Myself and many other local artists, also participate in First Fridays! From 6-9 every first Friday of the month.
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New Blog!

8/30/2013

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I've been working a lot lately on getting my online marketing rounded out and thought it would be nice to get a blog started. A blog is also a great opportunity for me to share  my artistic and creative process! I have entered in all the information and posts that were on the old 'News" section of my website, so they are still around, but now I will be posting articles on my studio process as well as news updates.  Please follow the blog, it will have lots of great information, I promise!
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Imaged of Bisqued Riverpots
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WSPA News Segment

8/8/2013

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PictureAllison with WSPA's Jennifer Martin
On August 8, 2013 I made my first TV Debut on WSPA's Carolina Now!, stationed in Spartanburg, SC. The show airs locally in the upstate area and does news reports on small, local businesses. This show focused primarily on my new series of pottery that I've been working on this year.  I discuss my inspiration, process, and future exhibition opportunities. Here's the link:

http://www.carolinascw.com/story/23082575/allison-anne-brown-pottery

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