'Jars of Clay' by Stephen Phillips Exhibition Reception

Stephen Phillips was born August 2, 1988 and raised in the small town of Crawford, MS. He attended and completed grade school at East Oktibbeha County High School, formerly known as B.L. Moor Attendance Center in 2006. Stephen Phillips has always been intrigued by the arts whether music, dance, or visual arts. His start in ceramics can be linked back to his childhood as a kid who found enjoyment in the mixing of earth with water.

Artist Statement

In my recent work, I have been exploring the juxtaposition of textures and colors. I use underglazes as the base color and gloss glazes to give a differentiation between the textures and appearances provided by both glazes. I use electrical tape to create patterns and geometrical shapes. When the tape is removed revealing the underglaze surface, these pieces are fired at cone 6 (around 2232 degrees F). Other pieces I create are raku-fired for completion. The unglazed surface of the bisque pot will turn a matte black during the raku firing process allowing the differentiation between the unglazed surface and the glazed area. These pieces are finished using gold wax as an accent and cold-sealed with clear acrylic spray paint. Every piece created is considered as an individual that belongs to a large family or collection.