"Unity" Installation exhibited at the Contemporary Photography and Visual Art Center's Gallery (CEPA Gallery)

I was introduced to curator Robert Hirsch through e-mail. Veronique Cote, curator and Director of FAU Galleries said he might be interested in some of my work. As a result "Unity" a photographic tile mural was evolved into an installation that is on display in "The Power of Resilience and Hope - Photography and the Holocaust: Then & Now, Buffalo, New York, January 20 – May 1, 2024. The artwork is composed of a 24-piece tile mural, wooden shelf and frame and 50 porcelain children's shoes. Personal photographs taken in 2017 in Israel form the image. "Unity", pictures Jews in the unifying act of prayer. Shot at the Kotel (The Western Wall) photographs of Jews from around the world; Mizrahi Jews, Ashkenazi Jews, Ethiopian Jews create my "Unity" image. Water is used as a symbol of purification. An IDF soldier stands as a protector. The Mogen David flag flies proudly along his side. Porcelain is used to create ceramic replicas of contemporary childrens shoes. Historically, porcelain is a material of value and transformation. The shoes reference the past lost generations and symbolize hope for the future. The Kotel for me is a space where the Jewish soul is alive and preserved. Israel is the homeland of the Jewish People. This artwork symbolizes that home. Here are some photos of the artwork being installed.

Nan's New Still Lives Exhibited in "Dreams of our Fathers"; FAU's Ritter Gallery

I have been working on intimate still lives for more than a year. Focused on conservation themes, my sculptures address the varied environmental impacts to water and food resources. My project, the Water: CodeBlue – Thirsty Nest Series, is a call for water conservation. Vital to all living things, water is managed by humankind, yet it is a shared resource needed by plant and animal species. The Thirsty Nest Series employs a personal setting to indicate human stewardship of this most essential natural resource. The artwork takes form as intimate, porcelain server sets based loosely on English tea ware. My choice of porcelain clay is based on its historical associations of rarity, high value, and alchemy (a seemingly magical power or process of transmuting). Patterned in black and white, the elements within each composition seek to balance light and dark contrast to indicate the dichotomy in current culture concerning conservation issues. In my sculpture; cups, bowls, platters are symbols of human presence. Their placement within each still life indicates human intervention. The sculpted black and white Warbler and Chicadee are symbols of wildlife. The Warbler defined as “singing in a quavering voice” is a bird clothed in a beautiful black and white pattern created by Mother Nature. Also patterned in black and white, the black capped Chickadee is a bird that is considered brave since they will interact with humans and even learn to eat from a human hand. I use ceramic replicas of water bottles capped with gold as a symbol of the commodification of water. Water spills appear as blue pools in concentric rings. The birds play within the still lifes, for instance, sitting in nests on top of inverted water bottles, in pools drinking, or crashing a tea party. Water bottles spill water with no apparent human presence. Through implied narrative I question whether water will be available to wildlife. It seems to me that birds do their job in the ecosystem. I wonder whether we will do ours?

Nan Exhibits New Sculptures at Morean Center for Clay

I am pleased to be exhibiting new sculptures in Figurative Florida at Morean Center for Clay: Opening November 9, 2019. “Figurative Florida (November 9 thru 29) curated by TJ Erdahl presents artwork created by the state’s top ceramic figure sculptors. The Florida artists featured include Nan Smith, Pavel Amromin, John Byrd, Liz Bryant, Derek Reveerts, Taylor Robenalt, Mario Mutis, Angela DiCosola, Tammy Marinuzzi, Matt Schaeffer and TJ Erdahl. An opening reception will be hosted as part of the St. Pete Arts Alliance Second Saturday Art walk on Saturday, November 9 from 5 to 9 pm.” I am very proud of the many UF Ceramics MFA Alumni artists included in Figurative Florida. All are creating resonant figure sculpture and sharing their talents and knowledge through teaching. Pavel Amromin is currently the Gallery Director and Assistant Professor at Gulf State College. Tammy Maranuzzi serves as the Chair and is a full Professor at the Gulf State College. Together this team has vitalized the art scene in Panama City, Florida. Liz Bryant is an Assistant Professor of Art at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Derek Reeverts is part of the UF family where he serves as the UF Ceramics Teaching Lab Specialist. Mario Mutis is working in Gainesville as an Adjunct Instructor teaching ceramics and sculpture at the Sante Fe College. Angel Dicosola in a Full Professor running the Ceramics Program at the Florida Atlantic University. Matt Schaeffer has taught art for the Sante Fe College, UF Ceramics and K-12. Exhibition Curator, TJ Erdahl recently moved to St. Peterburg, Florida to teach K-12. He has taught workshops nationally including at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Sante Fe Clay, the Morean Arts Center as well as teaching at the Princeton Day School, and at the University of Iowa. Paul and I drove the work down and also transported sculptures by Derek and Mario. I love the causeway view as you cross from Tampa to St. Petersburg. Thanks for Matt Scheimann (Morean Artist Manager) for helping get things ready for my install.

Nan Meets Brian Skerry - National Geographic Photojournalist and Fellow

I was excited to attend my second Brian Skerry lecture this week at the UF Performing Arts Center. I first met Brian by phone when he agreed to send me large format images he took diving for bluefin tuna. This generosity began a connection where I learned more from a lecture in Tampa in 2014 when I got to meet Brian in person for the first time. Brian is an inspiring photojournalist with a great aesthetic who dives all over the world and travels to convey a message of conservation by sharing his gorgeous underwater photography and exciting adventures. As someone who cannot dive I loved seeing not only the photographs but also videos of Brian in action photographing sharks (his latest story for National Geographic). I met Brian again to say hello after his presentation. We share a love for the water and underwater ecosystems and the health of our planet. He is a true inspiration!

Celebrating 40 Years at UF Ceramics!

I was honored to have the School of Art and Art History host a celebration of my 40 years on the faculty at the University of Florida in December 2018. I was so happy to see so many alums, retired faculty colleagues, current students and faculty attend. I was very excited to have the three Dean's... Joseph Sabatella, Donald McGlothlin, and Lucinda Lavelli... who I worked with make comments. My colleague of 24 years, Linda Arbuckle, spoke about our time together when we built UF Ceramics. Janet Chandler, read letters from alums from each of the four decades of my teaching. UF Ceramics faculty, graduate students and staff presented me with a gift. The College gave me a gator on a plank. I offered comments and thank you's at the end of the event. Time does fly by. I am off to Chapter 2 which is my time in studio as a full-time artist. Thank you all who made this a very special evening.

Nan's Figure Sculpting Session at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts

A lot of talent was concentrated in the classroom during my week-long figure sculpture workshop titled, "The Reflexive Self" at Arrowmont in October of 2018. What fun we had working the long hours; all day and all evening sculpting, casting, and doing glaze testing for the portrait busts that were created. We had a full room and everyone had good energy. My teaching assistants and I were able to work with the large group to create life casts, offer individual anatomy tutorials (after I demonstrated each step), and fire kilns to test low fire and mid-range glazes and underglaze effects. Pictures of the workshop at various stages follow. Thanks to the students who attended ... it was a joy to work with you! These first pictures are of my demo piece after 3 hours of modeling.

Nan at the 2018 Ceramics Ireland International Festival

What a great adventure we had in Ireland at the Ceramics Ireland International Festival and traveling the country. The festival workshop was a three day intensive where I demonstrated my figure sculpting and mold-making techniques. I also presented a lecture on my art work featuring my new research for the "Water:CodBlue Project"; installation and tile mural based on global water conservation. We then traveled the wet and wild coastal region of Ireland where I took photos for my new tile mural. We ended our visit in Dublin whee I interviewed two water scientists about water issues and conservation efforts in the Republic of Ireland.