Jonathon Arvizu

Name of School
Northern Arizona University

Expected Graduation Date:
05/20/2022

Faculty Nominator
Jason Hess

Reason for Faculty Nomination
Jonathan Arvizu is easily one of the best and most prolific ceramics majors we have ever had. He has exceedingly good hand skills and knowledge of the technical aspect of ceramics. His sense of form, attention to detail and conceptual thinking seem to grow stronger each day. his level of maturity, curiosity and work ethic are all beyond what the majority of students have. Johnny has, with my full support, been trying to study abroad in Japan for the past 2 years but has been unable due to Covid. Because of his graduation date (May 2022) he is out of time to do this and is planning his own journey abroad next fall. I am nominating him because I believe that an experience studying ceramics in Japan would be life changing for him. I cannot think of a student more deserving of an Honoring the Future Fellowship than Jonathan Arvizu.

Please provide a brief description of your art or medium.
High-fired ceramic vessels fired in a wood kiln.

Is your artwork handmade by you? If not, please explain
Yes

Are all or some of the components locally sourced?
These vessels have been dipped in a slip which has locally harvested clay.

Artist’s Statement:
Societies’ ever-growing pace creates way for a world filled with one-use plastic waste, an issue that constantly grows and has become concerningly overwhelming. Through utilitarian ceramic vessels, I am making a commentary on this problem and hope that making and promoting archival reusable objects will help to promote less waste in our society. I have a sustainable practice using renewable, locally sourced wood as fuel for the wood kiln, and indigenous clay materials for each vessel and its surface treatment. Striving for a reference to my environment and nature within my practice, I hope to create a connection with the user or viewer and encourage them to be more conscious of waste and also, of handmade beauty. This is the path I have chosen, and as much as I can contribute to the dialog about the precarious state of our environment brings motivation and joy to my practice.

How you will use the Fellowship funds if you are chosen as the winner.
Japan has a long history of woodfire traditions and use of indigenous clay. Any funding received from the Honoring the Future Fellowship would be used for travel and study in Japan. While there, I intend to visit several ceramic cultural areas like Shigaraki, Tokonome, and Karatsu. These places have a wide variety of interesting indigenous clay and all employ slightly different approaches to woodfire and the production of ceramic work. I have also made connections with several American and Japanese practitioners whose studios I intend to visit and hope to work and fire with. Having grown up in a Spanish speaking community in Douglas, AZ I have become, in recent years, fascinated with Japanese culture. I am currently taking two Japanese language courses and believe that traveling and doing research in Japan would be a life changing event that will inform my practice for years to come.