| Alumnus receives ceramics award |
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| Written by Bryan Podell, Daily Vidette Staff Writer |
| Thursday, 10 September 2009 19:53 |
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On July 12, 2008, Joe Madrigal, 2008 ISU graduate, received a Bronze Prize in the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale at the Yingge County Ceramics Museum in Taipei, Taiwan. In a ceramics biennale, contestants submit photos of their original works of art, which are then judged and placed in a category where artists present the physical art piece to a panel of seven to nine judges. Three bronze prizes, two silver prizes, one gold prize and one Best in Show prize are then given to contestants by the judges. “You typically have a week from whenever you find out about the competition to get your work ready,” Madrigal said. Madrigal met with a group of fellow students and advisors to help decide which piece to submit to the biennale. “He’s thoughtful when dealing with his work and can be too critical, so it’s good that he has other opinions,” Tyler Lotz, associate professor of ceramics and graduate professor for Madrigal, said. According to Madrigal, his interest in ceramics did not start until the spring of his sophomore year of college when he took a three-dimensional art class that was required by his art major. “I thought [ceramics] was just a bunch of girls doing pottery,” Madrigal said. After taking the required art class and discovering his new interest in ceramics, Madrigal decided to switch his major to ceramics, which caused him to stay for a fifth year at ISU. Madrigal then was accepted into the ceramics graduate program, where he met Lotz. According to Lotz, only three students are accepted into this program. “Since there are only three students taken into the program each year, I got to know Joe on a personal level and work more in-depth with him,” Lotz said. It was in the graduate program where Madrigal began to develop his own style. Madrigal likes to consider his style “organic” and said his influences come from biological interests. According to Madrigal, one can tell by looking at his finished works, which resemble various organs, that he takes influence from “grotesque” things. “I like playing with the idea of the obscure and finding beauty in it when I make my art,” Madrigal said. Madrigal feels that this unique style of art worked to his advantage when he received the bronze prize in 2008. “Joe demonstrates a unique form of [ceramics] and shows promise for the future,” Lotz said. |
