Daniel White

Abstract

For the graduate thesis I will investigate duality, as it exists in the realm of ego and humility. This is an inward investigation to become aware of how it exists in me. Duality has been of special interest in my life through growing up in two culturally different families with one owning ego and the other humility. The dualism experienced resulted in an internal dialogue deciphering between the two. I am convinced that the diffusion of ego through humor towards a more humbled approach to life is an important foundational block for fully becoming aware of who I am. Humor can be a very serious affair communicating universally through a surface camouflage hitting levels and crossing lines many other forms of dialogue cannot. This structure was ingrained in me through my father, a trickster, who in essence trained me to follow. The trickster personality was of special interest to Pre Columbian America and consisted of a person with dualistic traits. The trickster set a humorous trap for a lesson to be learned and was a physical example of who we are at our worst or our immaculate best. To communicate this idea in ceramics I am currently working in a plane format using slabs. This allows me to work with the physically dualistic aspects of front/back or two-sided, which set up visual and content comparisons. Containers are also feasible with the inside/outside emphasized through glazes, texture, and other media as well. The challenge is presenting this work in an aesthetically pleasing way to lure the viewer in visually to examine the layers of meaning underneath. The expression of layered humor is ageless but the timing and the way it is presented is crucial to its effectiveness.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Ceramic sculpture--Themes, motives; Art pottery; Duality (Logic)

Publication Date

8-13-2002

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

School for American Crafts (CIAS)

Advisor

Gallaway, Julia

Advisor/Committee Member

Skedel, DeAnna

Advisor/Committee Member

Wun, Clifford

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works in January 2014. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: NK3930 .W458 2002

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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