By BENJAMIN KLIEWER, Student Reporter
Unique shapes, colorful patterns and functionality are the reasons the Northwestern artist-in-residence chose ceramic artwork as a means of expression.
Sophia Farmer likes art that extends past the gallery and can be a part of people’s lives.
“I really like it [ceramic art] because it is like a functional art form,” Farmer said. “It’s an art form that you can make things, and then eat out of them and use them.”
Farmer entered the art field because art allows people to process difficult emotions.
Farmer started drawing as a child and took an art class in high school. After being raised in San Diego, California, and graduating high school, Farmer attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon.
That was where Farmer first tried ceramic art.
“I took a ceramics class at Reed, and I really fell in love with it,” Farmer said.
“I think, when a lot of people try out ceramics, they definitely fall in love with it because it is very therapeutic and cathartic, and kind of brings you back to childhood because it is like playing with the mud again.”
To graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Reed College, Farmer wrote a 70-page thesis and created a ceramic art show. Farmer said the paper and show addressed human relationships with coral reefs.
Farmer said inspiration for the ceramic artwork comes from many places, including pop culture, music videos, fancy baked foods and old magazines.
“For a long time, I have been really inspired by baked goods and crafty, fancy baked goods because I think they are really fun,” Farmer said. “It is fun to look at those and see the dishes they are using to put the cakes and stuff on top of and just day-to-day stuff.”
Farmer hosted a workshop at Northwestern on Oct. 20. Farmer said a couple reasons for the workshop were to help people learn new skills and expose them to new tools for self-expression.
Another opportunity to see many of Farmer’s pieces will be Friday at the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Alva.
Farmer will have an exhibit displaying many of the works created during the residency from 6 – 8 p.m.
The artist-in-residence program at Northwestern provides artists with housing, an on-campus studio and the opportunity to participate in the art walk.
Artists are responsible for providing their own food, transportation and materials.
To apply, artists must send 10 images of their recent work, a curriculum vitae and a statement of how they would use their time at Northwestern.
“I definitely want to connect with the students more and learn more about the culture here and be able to show new things maybe you guys haven’t seen before,” Farmer said.
