Artist Statement
Nancy Pirri is inspired
by women… not only by their individual beauty and myriad shapes,
but by their resilience and ability to survive through time. By employing
a variety of deliberate techniques, she sculpts women from clay that evoke
lost histories and mythic pasts. Pirri begins by capturing the curvaceous
nature of the traditional, classical female form. Her signature textures
are then applied to create a sense of earthiness and antiquity. Pirri's
grasp of the female has evolved to the point that often the form of the
clay itself leads to the creation of a specific sculpture.
Over time, Pirri has expanded her process to include silkscreen print
techniques that support the feel of timelessness. She has also experimented
with colored slip applications in specific ways with the goal of developing
random outcomes through the soda firing process. The element of surprise,
such as one might feel if they could suddenly unearth one of her pieces
from the ground, is an important aspect of Pirri's work and reminds us
all that within each woman lays strength and an incalculable ability to
endure.
Biography
Nancy
Pirri was born in Brooklyn, New York, and currently lives in Chicago,
IL. She has dabbled in every art form since childhood, discovering clay
to be her true passion in 1991. For the sixth year, she is represented
as a House Artist at Studio b in Three Oaks, MI and recently received
an Honorable Mention award from the Rockford Art Museum for her printmaking
on clay work titled "Arabella." She exhibits at many different
venues including galleries, charity auctions, private homes, and group
shows. She has studied with figure sculptors Richard MacDonald and recently
with Jack Kreutzer.
Education:
Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, IL ~ 1991-Present
Gesture in Wax ~ Jack Kreutzer ~ Brookgreen Gardens ~ Murrels Inlet, SC
~ May, 2009
The Richard MacDonald Workshop Series ~ Monterey, CA ~ October, 2002
American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL ~ 1985-1987
BA, University of Iowa, Studio Art, Iowa City, IA ~ 1985 Graduate
Gallery
Representation:
Studio b Gallery
~ Three Oaks, MI (seasonal)
Awards:
Honorable Mention Award ~ "Arabella"
~ Rockford Midwestern ~ Biennial Juried Competition ~ Rockford Art Museum
~ Rockford, IL ~ January-April, 2010
Contributions to the Art Community of Chicago ~ Friends of the Arts ~
April, 2006
Exhibitions/Shows:
Evanston Lake Shore Art Festival ~ Juried Group Show ~ Evanston, IL ~
August, 2010
Lala
Gallery ~ Juried National Ceramic Exhibition ~ Group Show ~ July, 2010
~ Lafayette, IN
Studio b ~ Season Opening ~ "Take Flight" Group Show ~ April,
2010 ~ Season 6 House Artist ~ Three Oaks, Michigan ~ April-December 2010
'One Inspired Evening' ~ Juried Auction/Charity event ~ Group Show ~ Chicago,
IL ~ March, 2010
The Art of Human Rights ~ Heartland Alliance ~ Juried Auction/Charity
event ~ Group Show ~ River East Art Center ~ Chicago, IL ~ February, 2010
Lincoln Perk 'Coffee Shop Show' ~ Group Show ~ Chicago, IL ~ February,
2010
The Art of Human Rights ~ Heartland Alliance ~ Juried Group Show ~ Gallery
180 ~ Chicago, IL ~ January-February, 2010
Rockford Midwestern ~ Biennial Competition ~ Rockford Art Museum ~ Rockford,
IL ~ January-April, 2010
2009 Holiday Show ~ Private Home ~ Chicago, IL ~ December, 2009
Women and their Relationship to Hair ~ Juried Group Show ~ Oakton Community
College, Koehnline Museum ~ Des Plaines, IL ~ October, 2009
Collective Conversations in Clay: Merging Media ~ Collaborative Invitational
~ Chicago, IL ~ October 2009
Lillstreet Annual Member Show ~ Juried Group Show ~ Chicago, IL ~ August,
2009
Studio b ~ Group Show ~ Lambda Legal "Into the Vines" ~ Three
Oaks, MI ~ June, 2009
Serene La Femme ~ Group Show ~ Palette & Chisel ~ Chicago, IL ~ May-June,
2009
Studio b ~ "Spring for Green" Group Show ~ April, 2009 ~ Season
5 House Artist ~ April-December 2009 ~ Three Oaks, Michigan
Curly Tale Fine Art ~ Grand Opening ~ Curly Tale Fine Art ~ Chicago, IL
~ April 2009
Medical Research Junior Board Foundation (MRJBF) Art Benefiting Children
Event ~ April 2009
Art Against Aids Silent Auction/Charity Event ~ Group Show ~ River East
Art Center ~ Chicago, IL ~ February, 2009
The Ceramic Print ~ Group Invitational Show ~ Lillstreet Gallery ~ Chicago,
IL ~ March 2009
Art Against Studio b CHICAGO Holiday Show ~ Group Show - John Hancock
Bldg., Chicago, IL ~ December 2008
Collective Conversations in Clay ~ Invitational Collaborative Show ~ Lillstreet
Gallery ~ Chicago, IL ~ October 2008
Juvenesse Spa ~ Solo Show ~ Grand Opening ~ Chicago, IL ~ September-October,
2008
Lillstreet Annual Member Show ~ Juried Group Show ~ Chicago, IL ~ August,
2008
Woman Made Gallery Annual Member Show ~ Juried Group Show ~ Chicago, IL
~ August, 2008
'Tre Femme' ~ Group Show ~ Palette & Chisel ~ Chicago, IL ~ May-June,
2008
Studio b ~ Three Oaks, MI ~ "Water Works" Opening ~ May, 2008
~ Season 4 as House Artist ~ April-December 2008
Woman Made Gallery ~ "Clay and Fiber" ~ Juried Group Show ~
Chicago, IL ~ April-May, 2008
Art Against Aids Silent Auction/Charity Event ~ Group Show ~ River East
Art Center ~ Chicago, IL ~ February, 2008
Art Against Aids Preview Exhibition ~ Juried Group Show ~ Gallery 180
~ Chicago, IL ~ January-February, 2008
The Bottle Shop ~ Wilmette, IL ~ January-February, 2008
Woman Made Gallery ~ "The Commercial Woman" ~ Juried Group Show
~ January-February, 2008
Studio b CHICAGO Holiday Show ~ Group Show ~ John Hancock Bldg., Chicago,
IL ~ December, 2007
Empty Bowls Project ~ Group Show ~ Lillstreet Art Center ~ Chicago, IL
~ December 2007
Takohl Designs Ltd ~ 2~person show ~ Chicago, IL ~ October, 2007
Lillstreet Gallery ~ Lillstreet Member Show ~ Chicago, IL ~ August 4,
2007
Highland Park Art Walk ~ A juried exhibition of artwork displayed in Highland
Park merchant windows, May-June, 2007
Studio b Season Opening ~ Three Oaks, MI ~ April 2007 (season ends December
18, 2007)
Gallery 57 ~ Group Show ~ Highwood, IL ~ March-April 2007
Studio b CHICAGO Holiday Show ~ Group Show ~ John Hancock Bldg., Chicago,
IL ~ December 2006
Mud & Water ~ 2 Person Show ~ Private Home, Lincolnshire, IL ~ October,
2006
Ravenswood Art Walk ~ Cornelia Arts Center and Morpho Gallery, Chicago,
IL ~ October, 2006
Studio b ~ Grand Opening of Second Season ~ Three Oaks, MI ~ April, 2006
Friends of the Arts Annual Member Show ~ Received an Art Community Service
Award ~ Chicago, IL ~ April, 2006
Manipulated Mud ~ Group Show ~ Gallery 203, Chicago, IL ~ March, 2006
Studio b CHICAGO ~ Group Show ~ John Hancock Bldg., Chicago, IL ~ December,
2005
Art Straight Up - Solo Show ~ Chicago, IL ~ September, 2005
Grand Opening ~ Studio b ~ Three Oaks, MI ~ June, 2005
Friends of the Arts Annual Member Show ~ Cornelia Arts Center, Chicago,
IL ~ March, 2005
Gallery 203 Art Show ~ Group Show ~ Chicago, IL ~ March, 2005
Art Show 2004 ~ 2 Person Show ~ Private Home, Lincolnshire, IL ~ October,
2004
Women Equals Strength ~ Soul Café ~ 2 Person Show ~ Chicago, IL
~ September, 2004
4th Annual Gross Park Sculpture Invitational ~ Rejectamenta ~ Group Show
~ May, 2004
Lillstreet Advanced Student Show ~ Group Show/8 Students ~ Chicago, IL
~ May, 2004
Takohl Designs Ltd ~ Garden of Eden ~ 2~person show ~ Chicago, IL ~ February,
2004
Salon 1800 Grand Opening ~ 2~person show ~ Chicago, IL ~ January, 2004
Tasteful Art (Art Walk) ~ 2~person show ~ Chicago, IL ~ September, 2003
The World Needs a Good Superhero These Days ~ 4th Annual Gross Park Sculpture
Invitational ~ Group Show ~ May, 2003
Art Show 2003 ~ Home of Steve and Nicole ~ Chicago, IL
Artistically Armitage (Art Walk ~ 2~person show) ~ Chicago, IL ~ October,
2002
Giostra for the Home ~ 2~Person Show ~ Chicago, IL ~ September, 2002
Postcard Show ~ Juried ~ Wood Street Gallery and Sculpture Garden ~ Chicago,
IL ~ June, 2002
Strictly Sculpture ~ Mars Gallery ~ Chicago, IL (Curator) ~ March, 2002
Friends of the Arts Annual Member Show ~ Cornelia Arts Center, Chicago,
IL ~ January, 2002
Kalas/Pirri Art ~ Private Home ~ Lincolnshire, IL ~ November, 2001
Pulcheria Arte, Piacenza, Italy ~ Juried ~ September, 2001
Woman Made Gallery ~ 8th Annual Juried Member Show, Chicago, IL ~ August,
2001
Friends of the Arts Annual Member Show ~ Cornelia Arts Center, Chicago,
IL ~ January, 2001
Dix Art Mix ~ Chicago, IL ~ April, 2000
Friends of the Arts Annual Juried Figure Show ~ Cornelia Arts Center,
Chicago, IL ~ October, 2000
Friends of the Arts Annual Juried Figure Show ~ Cornelia Arts Center,
Chicago, IL ~ October, 1999
Friends of the Arts Annual Member Show ~ Cornelia Arts Center, Chicago,
IL ~ January, 1999
Friends of the Arts Annual Member Show ~ Cornelia Arts Center, Chicago,
IL ~ January, 1998
Charity
Events ~ Sculpture Donations:
'One Inspired
Evening' ~ Juried Auction/Charity event ~ Group Show ~ Chicago, IL ~ March,
2010
The Art of Human Rights ~ Heartland Alliance ~ Auction/Charity event ~
Group Show ~ River East Art Center ~ Chicago, IL ~ February, 2010
Final
Feliz Foundation ~ A foundation inspired by the desire to stimulate
inter-continental awareness through the light and shadows of artistic
expression ~ Chicago, IL ~ November 2009
Medical Research Junior Board Foundation (MRJBF) ~ Art Benefiting Children
Event ~ April 2009
Art Against Aids ~ River East Art Center ~ Chicago, IL ~ February 2009
Blue Sky Inn Fundraiser ~ Chicago, IL ~ October 2008
Obama Fundraiser ~ Perfect Pear Gallery ~ Chicago, IL
Artists for Harmony ~ Suite Lounge ~ Chicago, IL ~ August 2008
Art Against Aids ~ River East Art Center ~ Chicago, IL ~ February 2008
Empty Bowls Project ~ Lillstreet Art center ~ Chicago, IL ~ December 2007
Make-a-Wish Foundation ~ Sage Restaurant ~ Chicago, IL ~ October 2007
Columbia College ~ Scholarship Benefit ~ Chicago, IL ~ July 2007
Rock For Kids ~ Chicago, IL ~ April 2005/April 2006
Hurricane Katrina Benefit for Relief Efforts ~ Studio b Gallery ~ Three
Oaks, MI ~ October 2005
Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization ~ May 2005
Art Against Aids ~ Chicago, IL ~ February 2005
Member:
Friends of the Arts, Chicago, IL www.FOTA.com
218ac - Pulcheria Arte, Piacenza, Italy www.218ac.it
Babele Art World Artists ~ Italy www.babelearte.net
Saatchi Gallery, London, England www.saatchigallery.com
www.myartspace.com
www.artanddesignonline.com
www.fineartamerica.com
www.artworldchicago.com
Techniques I
use:
Soda Firing: Soda
Firing constantly intrigues me, specifically because of its random, uncontrollable
flashes of color and orange peel surface. The finish is formed from the
chemical reactions with the elements of the clay body itself. Soda Firing
uses a mixture of baking soda, soda ash, woodchips, and whiting. This
solution is added to the kiln at the hottest point of reduction (2,300
degrees!) and then vaporized producing atmospheric effects such as flashes
of color, a characteristic orange peel surface, and glaze-like finishes.
It is uncontrollable and random, which enhances the creative process for
me.
Image Transfer Process: A photocopy is made with a copier - usually the copiers that work best are the older ones. The ink is created using a specific formula... oil-based transparent ink mixed with mason stains, and loosened with easy wipe compound. Gum Arabic is flooded onto the photocopy which adheres to the toner. This is followed by four or five steps, interchanging with water -- which is sponged off -- then inked (rolled on with a brayer) interchanging each action four or five times. (we have coined the phrase 'spongeworthy' when you finally achieve the aeroplane-like, forearm action). The water removes the ink that does not adhere to the toner. The image is then burnished onto the clay at the greenware stage, usually with a wooden spoon but a porcelein door knob works even better.
Slip to Slip Technique: A true printmaker I have become! and have recently learned that images are 'crisper' using this technique. First you expose your images onto a silkscreen. I try to get as many images on one screen as possible. Using water-based ink mixed with mason stains, images are silkscreened onto paper... usually newsprint works or photocopy paper. Cut out the image, slip it with white porcelain or colored slips and/or underglazes...Then slip the section of your piece either with the same slip you used on your image or if you don't want a background, you would use clay slip (water mixed with clay body). Then burnish, blow dry until paper is completely dry, dab with wet sponge and peel off the paper.
