Drawing parallels between the past and the present are some of the themes Tanner Clark deals with in his art, using social and political issues in recent American history to emphasize how the past is romanticized.
Clark is a senior in the glass-blowing program at Emporia State University. He said that “in the process of commemorating, memorializing or silencing those events, we lose many of the lessons we should have learned from what had happened.”
Clark, who is from Emporia, has been blowing glass since high school. In his final semester in college, his work is getting recognition.
Two of his pieces are finalists for different categories of the 2009 Student NICHE Awards, and he will be in Philadelphia on Sunday to hear the winners announced. His piece titled “Ampolina/Mezzo Stampo Goblets” is a finalist in the Glass: Functional category, and “Gas Mask” is a finalist in the Glass: Structural category.
The awards are sponsored by NICHE magazine, a trade publication for art retailers. The program started in 1990 to recognize the achievements of North American artists. According to a press release, the student awards are judged by two criteria: technical excellence, both in surface design and form, and “a distinct quality of unique, original and creative thought.”
Only 69 entries out of almost 900 submissions were chosen to be finalists.
Clark’s work has recently been on display in the senior show at Gilson Gallery in King Hall on the ESU campus. He said a lot of the work in the show marks new territory for him as an artist.
Up until now, he has worked on improving his skills and perfecting his technique. He now feels comfortable enough with his abilities to explore and develop his artistic voice.
“The functional stuff I do mainly as a technical exercise to keep my skills where they need to be,” Clark said. “The sculptural stuff I really enjoy because it’s a form of self-expression. It’s not just an object.”
Clark said he is drawn to working with glass because of the challenge of the medium.
“It’s a difficult medium to work with because, for one, you can never actually touch it while you’re working on it,” he said. “It’s kind of like an indirect process for creating anything.”
Clark said it takes a lot of work to maintain his skills.
“I compare it a lot of times to playing an instrument,” he said. “You have to practice it almost every day, and when you have time off, you still have the skills but you have to work to get back to where you were before.”
He also likes the physical work involved in working with glass.
“It’s very demanding on your body,” he said.
Clark hopes to continue his art after graduation.
“I plan on pursuing this as a career,” he said, “so hopefully I’ll be going elsewhere.”
He is looking into an apprenticeship at the Pittsburgh Glass Center in Pittsburgh, Penn., where a few ESU graduates have gone.
“It’s not a sure thing,” he said. “It’s at the top of my list right now, though.”
Whatever happens, Clark plans to pursue a career as a studio artist.
“As long as I’m working with glass, I’ll be happy,” he said.