Artist: Maria Abrahamian
Exhibition: Expectations
Media: ceramic, gelatin, egg yolk
Gallery: LBSU School of Art Gallery
This past Sunday I attended the LBSU Art Show known as “So Long, And Thank You”. I Looked through all the pieces (which were all beautiful) but one artist really stood out to me. Her name is Maria Abrahamian, she had a whole room full of her pieces and it honestly blew my mind because she mixed common items as well as food with her ceramics pieces. Additionally her pieces really drew me to them because I have never seen anything like them.
Maria Abrahamian is a student in the School of Art’s Ceramics Program. She creates pieces using ceramics, weaving, and food to explore female sexualization through childhood experiences. Nevertheless while talking to her I expressed my love of ceramics and she asked if I was in the school of arts but I declined and responded saying I wish but sadly my parents won’t let me. She then expressed how she had been told similar. She said that’s the reason she went to community college before transferring into the Ceramics program. She had been told how it wouldn’t pay the bills and how she had been discouraged yet she still pushed through. Not only that but she genuinely enjoys the program and encouraged me to join the program or at least take a few classes.
However, going back to her piece “Expectations” it had many great qualities to it. Specifically the mixture of textures and shape amazed me. From the smooth, soft and rounded gelatin to the hard sculpted platter underneath the piece was very well rounded. Not only that but the small details of the platter had excellent linework and consistency. Even her color scheme was phenomenal because she balanced the piece very well by making the platter vibrant colors like pink and purple contrasting from the dull gelatin.
Despite my amazement with the creation of the piece it isn’t the only aspect of the piece. Maria’s overall meaning behind it was very inspiring. She stated how “As we age we distance ourselves from our upbringing by leaving behind what no longer serves us” and how it challenges feminine roles. Not only that but it shows how the time between childhood and womanhood collapses as you look back from where you currently stand. After being told this everything came to light. I understood why she made the piece look like bunt cake on a platter to show the stereotypes throughout society and empower woman while looking back on childhood experiences.
Lastly my overall experience with this piece was immensely positive. I loved her creativeness and whole meaning. I would have never thought to mix food and ceramics. Not only that but the piece reminded myself of the time I spent with my grandmother in the kitchen making bunt cakes just like this, so this piece warmed my heart.
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