Linda Ganstrom is truly a “Midwest Mentor.” Not only did she grow up in Kansas, she has dedicated her life to mentoring artists here. As a professor at Fort Hays State University, Linda has had an incredible impact on young artists. Additionally, she served on the board of NCECA for 6 years as exhibitions director, sharing her spirit and amazing energy with artists of all ages nationwide, not to mention guiding young people interested in becoming more involved with the organization. Linda and her husband Sheldon have been friends of the entire Bracker clan for decades. Plans for this workshop were exciting and synergistic from the start, and the result was a captivating two days for the 13 participants from Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and New Mexico.
Original Linda Ganstrom Workshop Description
Bracker’s Good Earth Clays is thrilled to host Linda Ganstrom for an unique workshop on body casting! Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn from one of our field’s premier figurative sculpture artists on January 21-22, 2012.
On Day One of the workshop, Linda will show slides, discuss research and development of ideas, and demonstrate pressmolding a head and torso from a body cast mold as well as making a simple sprig mold. Participants will then use the demonstrated techniques to make body cast forms on Linda’s molds and to make their own sprig molds. During this time, Linda will also be demonstrating the process of creating the body cast mold. After lunch, participants will continue to work with their forms and sprig molds.
On Day Two, Linda will demonstrate assembly by adding head to torso and adding arms. She will demonstrate while participants continue to work on their own pieces – Opening the eyes, detailing nose, mouth & ears, adding hairstile, developing the surface with cargin, incising or underglazes, adding sprig mold details, etc.
At the end of the workshop, each participant will share and discuss their piece.
Linda Ganstrom Bio
Working in figurative ceramics for the past 30 years, Linda Ganstrom explores issues relating her personal experiences to big picture questions. Potential, growth and transformation, memory, family obligation, gender roles, spirituality, morality and identity conceptually inspire her works ranging from figurines to large scale installations. Chance, consequence, desire, changing perceptions, relationships and responsibility are perennial themes in Linda’s sculptures. While raising two children with her artist/husband, Sheldon Ganstrom, Linda earned 3 degrees from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, where she is currently a Professor of Art and Design. Curating, writing, workshops and travel are other professional activities that intrigue and connect Linda to the world. Most recently, Linda has been involved with NCECA as Exhibitions Director from 2008 – 2011. Her interest in the environment inspired her curatorial concept for “Earth Matters,” the 2010 NCECA Invitational Exhibition held in Philadelphia, PA. Currently she is curating “Push Play” exploring the importance of play and creativity for the 2012 NCECA Invitational to be hosted by the Bellevue Arts Museum in Seattle, WA. Enjoying the open informal learning atmosphere of workshops, Linda has recently conducted figurative workshops Colorado, Texas and California.
We are thrilled to include this beautiful 7′ tall beauty from Linda Ganstrom’s nationally renowned Bell(e) series, available until the show closes on March 26th:
You can connect with Linda Ganstrom on instagram and facebook
