Justin Novak Workshop Download

When: July 9th, 2022

Time: 1 to 4 p.m.

Where: Zoom

Description: This workshop will reveal Justin Novak's working methods, from conceptualization and stylization to the construction process involved in his ceramics practice. At the heart of his work, including his Disfigurine series, is the emotional, visceral, and symbolic resonance of gesture, and close attention to the nuances of the drying process is key to his ability to convey fluid body language. Novak's practice investigates the contemporary potential of the ceramic figure to harness age-old aesthetic conventions of Western Classicism, but his work also draws upon a range of contemporary formal vocabularies, including those associated with animation, comics and Designer Toy culture. Novak will share perspectives on the contemporary implications of these stylistic choices, and how his drawing and illustration practice informs creative directions. He will also discuss the motivations behind various projects, many of which have concerned human vulnerabilities, or frailties, and how the inherent fragility and history of the ceramic medium can enrich the poetics of his subject matter. Justin Novak's ceramic work has featured widely in National and international galleries and museums. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Art at Emily Carr University or Art and Design in Vancouver, Canada.