UF Ceramics MFA alumna Adrienne Eliades (MFA ‘16) is the featured artist in the January/February 2017 issue of Pottery Making Illustrated. Her article, In the Service of Food, describes her process of creating baskets specifically designed for foods that stir memories of the past.
“Pottery is rooted in utility,” said Eliades. “...My work lately has all been motivated by what food or drink the form will contain.”
Eliades began creating the baskets for her thesis project, Kindred Confection, at the University of Florida. Her grandmother’s recipe for Loukoumades (Greek doughnuts) and coffee inspired the project.
Kindred Confection was a live art project - she used the scent of her grandmother’s Loukoumades to lure passersby in crowded areas in Gainesville. Once she had their interest, she asked them to write a family recipe on an index card. The collection of recipes documented the community’s food histories.
Eliades hopes that her work serves as inspiration for aspiring ceramics artists. The editor of Pottery Making Illustrated, Holly Goring, who asked her to write the article, believed intermediate to advanced potters would enjoy reading about her techniques and tips for making pierced pottery.
“I believe that ceramics, much more than other art or craft media, is based in a tradition of sharing and creating community because often ceramic artist must share resources like equipment and kilns to be able to make their work,” said Eliades.
Eliades passed on a word of advice to current art students at UF.
“Think big, experiment lots, and make good use of all the resources UF has to offer.”
Adrienne Eliades lives and maintains a studio in Vancouver, Washington. She is currently a visiting artist at the Ash Street Project in Portland, Oregon. See more of her work at www.adrienneeliades.com.
