I walked into the studio and saw him bent over, focused on fitting a perfectly made handle to a pitcher that rested on a table covered in tools. He turned toward the sound of the opening door.
“Lydia! I’ll be done in one second.”
“Perfect!” I said.
While he was finishing up, I used the spare time to walk around and look at his studio: a wheel in the corner, a bookshelf lining the wall and a table for working space. Grey dust covered the top of all surfaces in the space, affirming the many hours spent working with clay. This is where he creates and turns ideas into physical works of art.
Josh Smith is a senior at Union University. He will be graduating with a bachelor of fine arts with a primary emphasis in ceramics and secondary emphasis in sculpture. He started off as a zoology major, but it did not take long for Smith to realize that this was not for him. Within one semester of pursuing zoology, he decided the multiple required chemistry prerequisites were not worth the major (who could blame him?). Through a series of events, he was introduced to Union’s well-established art department. And more importantly, he was introduced to the art of throwing, quickly discovering his new passion.
We left the studio and made our way to the Bowld to start the interview. We made ourselves comfortable at a bar table and stools upstairs by the windows, where he proceeded to walk me through a brief outline of his life and describe what underlying influences led him to pursue art.
Growing up, Smith had a hard time sticking with things, as he often found himself fascinated by new possibilities. When he switched his major, however, this all changed.
“When I started with ceramics, I would come home to my parents on breaks and say ‘I still love this, I love this so much,’” Smith said. This passion continues to grow and challenge him, which is one of the reasons why he loves what he does so much.
In finding something that finally brought consistent joy, Smith reflected on the act of studying. In a word, he described it as being “abstract.” He found himself questioning what he actually accomplished after studying test material, much of which was lost in time. This is one reason he likes ceramics so much: He can go into the studio, create something tangible and complete and track concrete progress.
In speaking more to his love for ceramics, Smith explains some of the driving forces that push him to excel.
“I am a competitive person so the idea of a challenge is really intriguing,” Smith said. “For me, it is always a competition with myself because I can always grow and be a little bit better.”
Artists are often their own worst critic, which seems to continually push Smith to improve his skill and grow his technique. With ceramics, as with other art forms, no two pieces are exactly alike. There is never a repeat of a situation or a single pot.
“The idea of serenity: that is the idea that I go for when I work,” Smith said. “There is no pretension, no angst… nothing but a contemplative moment between you and the pot.”
In regards to inspiration, Smith said there are only a few animate things that really inspire him. In fact, he shared that throwing is what inspires him most. For Smith, it is the action itself that is inspiring. As a potter, the freedom to explore new forms and design execution prove to be excellent motivators to producing unique and creative pieces.
Currently, Smith is working on creating what will be displayed at his senior show — the art major’s equivalent of a capstone.
“I’m throwing large platters and small mugs for my senior show,” Smith said. He is looking forward to displaying unique pieces that highlight his acquired skill in ceramics.
Reflecting back on his childhood, Smith described a time he visited Gatlinburg with his family. There, he met a potter who told him to never start throwing because if he did he would never be able to stop. Ten-year-old Smith recalled how he dismissed this comment and moved on without any thought.
“If I was ever to see him again, I would say you were right, I can’t stop,’” Smith said.
In listening to Smith share memories like these and seeing the joy that ceramics brings him, it is clear that he’s exactly where he is supposed to be.
When thinking about long-term plans, Smith intends to get his masters in art and then pursue a career in teaching art courses to university students, especially that of ceramics. He is excited to have found a passion and a love for this art form and hopes to be a key figure in helping future aspiring artists discover the same passion.
Photos by Tamara Friesen
