Visiting Artist Highlight: Emily Turner
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Emily Turner (she/her)
@emkturn
www.emilyturner.info
Emily Turner is an educator and artist based in Seattle, WA.
Through both she enjoys exploring place layers and the construction of historical narratives, and firmly believes in the intellectually rigorous nature of fun. She dabbles in printmaking, bookbinding, ceramics, photography, and writing.
Get to know Emily!
What is your favorite thing about being an RCC studio renter?
So much space and independence! I’m used to working in a community studio where I get a singular ware board to store works in progress on, so throwing-wise I’m excited to practice and build skills where it helps to have more space: making sets and multiples, throwing larger, pieces that are altered/have a lot of parts, and dipping my toes into handbuilding. There are a lot of exciting firsts that are emerging with this opportunity as well - I’m already learning so much about setting up and managing my own workspace, and I am looking forward to learning how to fire a kiln, mix glazes, and sell pieces for the first time. I can’t believe almost a month has gone by though, yikes!
What has inspired your most recent work?
I’m still new to pottery so my practice mostly comes from soaking in and trying new things as much as I can. This summer I’ve been finding a lot of inspiration outdoors while backpacking, biking, and exploring our beautiful state: the colors and textures of tidepools, the drama of the mountains, plant patterns and shapes. But now that I’m starting to look forward to cozy fall vibes and foods, a lot of my ideas lately have been inspired by past and future meals.
When do you feel most inspired?
That feeling of chasing an idea and letting it lead you somewhere rather than the other way around. It’s hard to know where you’ll find an idea to follow, but to me creativity comes when tapping into a sense of play, curiosity, observation, or exploration.
How do you push through creative blocks?
It’s taken a lot of practice for me to learn how to be kind to my artistic self when I feel stuck, and that’s a big part of it. Another has been cultivating an expansive understanding of my own creativity that honors the many forms it takes that are not artistic, as well as the ways in which I feed it. More immediately: playing around in another medium, taking myself on an artist date, or attending a workshop to learn something new can really re-energize me. I also really love exploring pots other people have made, ideally with my hands but eyes-only in a gallery, studio, or on social media can be really fun too.
What advice would you give to Emily 5 years ago?
Gosh, at the time she was really having a blast writing and learning new print arts so I’m not sure she’d listen, but I’d for sure tell her to try ceramics :)
What's next for Emily? Shows?
I just submitted a few cups to the RCS Community Cup Showcase at Dubsea Coffee October 7th - October 31st! Right now I’m working on pieces for soda and raku firings in a couple of weeks, and after that I will begin prepping for the RCC Holiday Show & Sale in early December!
