Gillian Parke
Gillian Parke
Gillian Parke graduated from Boston University with a BA in chemistry. Gillian continues to work in chemistry at the Durham VA Medical Center doing research into quantitating neurosteroids. Her journey with clay began in 1995 with a wheel throwing class offered through the Parks and Recreation Department of Chapel Hill. After spending a year taking courses towards a MFA in ceramics at East Carolina University, Gillian returned to Durham where she currently has a studio. In 2008 she received an Emerging Artist Grant from the Durham Arts Council. She was chosen by Ceramics Monthly Magazine as one of 13 Emerging Artists in 2008 and was featured as a cover artist in the February 2009 issue. Gillian Parke’s work explores the fusion of rough and fine textures and surfaces into complete pieces of ceramics. Her work is in numerous public and private collections including the San Angelo Museum of Art and the Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC. Information is available at gillianparke.com
Gillian Parke’s work explores the fusion of rough and fine textures and surfaces into complete pieces of ceramics. The roughness is embodied in the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in the natural imperfections that arise when throwing and firing stoneware; the fineness emanates from traditional western manufactured porcelain ceramics. Feldspar inclusions are added to porcelain and the resulting surfaces are achieved through a combination of an unpredictable atmospheric gas firing and reliable electric firing. The conflict is further explored by incorporating open-stock decals and metallic lusters, which have often been overlooked by modern studio potters as feminine hobby materials.
