Focus Statement

The 2016 Convergence Blog documents the summer research conducted internationally by six UF Ceramics MFA candidates who will inform their art practice through off site experiences in Europe, California, Philadelphia, Colorado, New York, Tennessee etc. The research will take form as workshop experiences, photo-documented travel, interviews with scientists, and direct work with other artists. The artists participating in this blog are: 2nd MFA candidates: Paige Ward, Christina Carfora, and Bridget Fairbank plus First year MFA candidates: Carin Sankus, Ariel Bowman, and Stephanie Wilhelm. Some of the summer research is funded by external fellowships and scholarships (to attend workshops), by employment on site, and by graduate travel awards from the University of Florida. This research will be carried into each artists' studio practice and documented weekly from Monday May 16 and last Monday August 1. Entries are posted each Monday in both written and pictorial formats. Nan Smith, Professor UF Ceramics Program