As I sat in Milk and Roses with Andrea Miranda Salas, I hovered over a spread out pile of full sized images of her latest show at Brooklyn Workshop, "Elements of Protection: the Process of Progress". The show looks incredible and I could see why  this gallery was the perfect space to view her work, a space that reflects the authentic nature of Andreas pieces.  The white brick walls rest under thin yellow tracing paper that Andrea has hung behind her beautiful, hand made rope and slip cast porcelain neck pieces.

Andrea tells me that in the beginning of the process, her work has always been very artifact driven. "I live with all these pieces for a long time, I have them in my house, and I hang them on the walls consistently, and I shift them around. And slowly they just become, something."

For this collection of work, Andrea focused on the idea of protection of one's Self, through delicate armor. One part of her artist statement really struck me. "These shields, mostly composed of porcelain, which has the quality of both strength and extreme fragility, provide an ironic sense of protection. They become less a function of actual protection, but instead,  become a facade that shields you from others; a symbolic representation of self preservation. As these works unfold in the series, they evolve from solid constrictive shields into softer forms, working with softer more permeable materials. Almost symbolic of the self becoming lighter, softening and finally surrendering." One can relate emotionally to these very tangible, wearable, works. Even without reading the artist statement behind the work, one can't help but feel this depth of soul in the works.

The cotton string that Andrea has woven into her own delicate layer of armor looks almost religious in it's purity. While taking a class in weaving at the Textile Center, she found herself merging these delicate threads with the artifacts of porcelain she had begun making and were starting to evolve with and into the string. "Making rope is really easy actually, unless you have a cat, then it gets a little messy." Andrea joked. But the incorporation of the cotton string in this work really pushes it to another level. The loosely woven cords of cotton in the form of a chest plate descends naturally from the twisted ropes and makes you feel a sense that perhaps you are already wearing this armor in someway.

It's not uncommon for Andrea to put her heart into the process of crafting her works. When I asked her if there was a project in her past that she was maybe most proud of, she began to tell me an adorable story about two match sticks stuck together. She had found them in a match book at a bar, and something about the way they were stuck together had her see this as a special moment. She loved them enough to take them home with her and save them for quite awhile, until one day she decided to cast them in porcelain, (you can see beautiful photos of this process here.) She explains at the end of the story that she likes the idea of taking the porcelain matches and placing them in match books at bars or restaurants around town. "You throw it in there and someone else finds it, and it's magical."

Andrea has been working in Ceramics a Clayspace1205 for 5years now, and has formed lasting bonds with many of the other artists. Some she's even collaborated with and plans to continue doing so in the years to come Andrea's work is on display to be viewed by appointment at The Brooklyn Workshop, 393 Hoyt Street, Brooklyn (718) 797-9427. There are more photos of Andrea Miranda Salas' work on her website. Keep a close eye, as she plans to incorporate a line of "more accessible" neck pieces for retail. Also, if you are ever in a bar and happen to flip open a box of matches and find two porcelain ones stuck together, you'll know where the wink is coming from ;)

Clay Space 1205 Hosts: Community Mosaics Facilitating and Creating Community-Based Public Projects Hands on Workshop led by Laurel True ~ March 9-11,

Community Mosaics

Ngong Hills Mural, Mbagathi, Kenya With students from Steiner School Facilitating and Creating Community-Based Public Projects

Hands on Workshop led by Laurel True

Workshop: March 9-11, 2012

Friday Evening 6 – 8:30,
Saturday and Sunday 9:30 – 5 pm

Cost: $495 includes binder with extensive class handouts
Register with PayPal

Location: Galazzo Glass/Sopp Ceramic at

Clay Space 1205 Ceramic Studios

1205 Manhattan Avenue, Ste. 2-4-1
Brooklyn, NY 11222

tel. 718.383.5400

http://www.clayspace1205.com

For more information or to register please e-mail: gglasssceramic@gmail.com

This weekend intensive workshop lead by community and public artist Laurel True

Jacmel Memorial Mosaic Wall

will focus on methodology and techniques for approaching community-based, public mosaic projects. Students will get a chance to experience group mosaic-making processes through the actual creation and installation of a mosaic mural. Students will come away from this information – packed workshop with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead and facilitate successful, permanent projects that engage and inspire community.

Workshop will begin Friday evening with a presentation of successful project models and lecture will include sample pedagogy for including and training community

members in the creation of public art. Instructor will cover various approaches to community outreach, design development, sourcing locations and materials and recruiting project participants.

Saturday and Sunday morning will be devoted to lecture and demonstration and the afternoons to practice- hands on training in the creation of a mosaic mural that will be donated to a local non-profit, school or business

Lecture will include step-by-step instructions with complementary images describing multiple approaches to project coordination, management and creation with a focus on creating permanent artworks specific to a host communities’ needs, desires, location and circumstances.

Instructor will present several group mosaic- making techniques that can be employed with groups with any level of training. Specific teacher/ facilitator training will focus on best practices for technical construction methods so that outdoor, public projects are durable, safe and long lasting. Technical resources will be included in class binder.

Sycamore Park, Mill Valley, CA

Additional topics covered will include:

· Defining project goals and objectives
· Project planning, funding and budget creation
· Project and time management techniques for any scale project
· Working in and outside of the classroom
· Professional development and entrepreneurial training for participants

This class will be of particular benefit to mosaic artists and public artists who would like to add a community component to their projects, teachers, community organizers and anyone interested in community development and entrepreneurial training through the arts.

Some knowledge of mosaic making techniques is helpful.

Workshop participants should come prepared to work both inside and outside during class. Students will be asked to sign a waiver and photo release.

PLEASE NOTE:

This class must meet it’s minimum (6) by February 6th. Students are encouraged to sign up early!

Also: This class is being offered the weekend after the National Association of Art Educators Conference in New York, which runs March 1-4