The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts will welcome ceramic artist Mitch Iburg on Wednesday, March 12, and Thursday, March 13, for two days of live demonstrations, an artist lecture and discussions with students about their work and ideas.
“Having access to an internationally recognized artist at the top of his game is an invaluable opportunity for our students,” said Scott Steder, lecturer of art at UW-Platteville. “This visit is not for art enthusiasts alone. Mitch is a material scientist who tackles applied chemistry and earth science through the lens of a ceramicist."
Iburg has numerous publications and a long exhibition history, with works shown in galleries across the globe. Originally from Hudson, Wisconsin, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Since graduation, he has pursued residencies in Virginia, New York, Denmark, Mendocino and Lake Counties in California. He now runs an established studio with his fiancé, Zoe Powell, where they work with indigenous clay and mineral resources mostly dug themselves.
"His work, process and documentation are extremely poetic,” said Steder. “He brings a heightened awareness to things we are familiar with, lifting fleeting moments of the mundane into momentous places. I find myself mesmerized by the tactile surfaces and absorbed in an aesthetic that allows for deep contemplation."
Live demonstrations will take place on March 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and March 13 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Art Building, Ceramics Studio 111. He will present a lecture on March 12 at 4 p.m. in Doudna Hall, Room 136. Events are free and open to the public.
Video link to Form of Memory - The life and work of Mitch Iburg: https://vimeo.com/298098808