Artist Statement:
The object before me is a box of mirrors, reflecting the boundaries between my own humanity and instinctual movements of the hand. I wonder what becomes our physical relic, and create objects through the lens of investigation between the inherent transformative nature of clay and painted surface.
I think of clay as a facilitator for community connection within its inherent transformation. Clay gives power in its transformation. I think this power transforms us when we handle clay for the first time. A mug is not itself, it is not home, until it is in your hands. Without you, it is just stone, flecks of paint, and glass. My paintings are not complete, either, without stewardship, without the request of an audience. The work requests its audience to experience in order to be complete. The narrative requires you to be complete, just as the pot requests its function. In this way, these works become relics of what we know.
Art as evidence of our humanity.
Artist Bio:
Meghan Tranauskas is an artist and educator from Frankford, Philadelphia. Their ceramic work is heavily invested in surface decoration as a vehicle for connection through familiar patterns. Meghan holds a BFA in Ceramics, Post Baccalaureate in ceramics, and BA in Art History from the Pennsylvania State University. They are a current Masters of Education candidate at the University of Pennsylvania for elementary education. Though they can usually be found enjoying the making of happy pots in vibrant community studios, Meghan is also a multi-disciplinary artist that works with painting and drawing, fiber arts, and photography. Most recently, they have been selected as an artist partner through the Barnes Foundation’s Barnes West Everyday Places Artist Partnership serving the West Philadelphia community. They have taught as an instructor at The Clay Studio and Philly Arts Center, and studio technician and instructor at Perkins Center for the Arts. Tranauskas has worked as an artist assistant for Roberto Lugo, Cesar Viveros, and Maria Albornoz.
Instagram: megadelphia
