Fine Art

Janis Mars Wunderlich: Two Dimensional

JMR13

Janis Mars Wunderlich is a contemporary ceramic master. She was born in Akron, Ohio and received her BFA from Brigham Young University and an MFA from The Ohio State University. She was profiled previously on The Krakens for her ceramic work. She is spending the summer in Dresden, Germany on a residency studying modern and historic techniques of porcelain figurine manufacturing at the Meissen Factory in Meissen, Germany. Wunderlich lives in Ohio.

Wunderlich writes of her work, “A significant part of my life has been dedicated to the role of nurturer and protector – instinctive duties that are equally sustaining and consuming. I symbolize this dichotomy in my art through the representation of a central mother figure that is often overlaid with layers of small child-like and anthropomorphic figures. The interactions between the mother figure and her living appendages provide social narratives depicting the joys and struggles of family life. The burdens of domestic duties and parental responsibilities result in satisfying pleasure and excruciating pain, both of which ultimately strengthen our character. “

JMR9 JMR6 JMR12 JMR7 JMR11

How did your career develop? What worked and what didn’t? What is your work like today? I went to graduate school when I only had one child, because I knew life was not likely going to get easier. I wanted to get as much education in ceramics as I could, as there is so much technical and material information to learn in the field! After grad school, I voraciously sought after any opportunity to teach and exhibit my art, filling every spare minute of my time with art. For 25 years, I have balanced full-time art making with being a full-time mother. I found the best way to balance teaching was to seek short-term teaching opportunities, such as visiting artist/ lecturer events, or to teach short-term workshops at art schools. I had my studio at home so I could work on art while taking care of meals, laundry, and all of the crazy events of daily life. My kids would work on their own projects along side me in the studio. They grew up doing art regularly in their corner of my studio.

As my kids have gotten older, I am able now to teach more, and recently took over the Ceramics area at a university in Ohio. The only unfortunate part of all of this is that despite my 20 years of teaching as a visiting artist, it’s not considered ‘official’ college teaching experience. So, as I go back in to teaching at the university level, I am starting from scratch as an adjunct instructor. I am in a transitional period in my art (and in my personal life!) where I am experimenting, pushing boundaries, and forcing myself to get uncomfortable in the art making process. I am forcing myself to draw and paint, and explore mixed media. We will see where I end up!

Visit Janis Mars Wunderlich’s website.

Follow Janis Mars Wunderlich on Instagram.

JanisSOFA-600x800

Sculpture

Janis Mars Wunderlich: Ceramics

jm

Janis Mars Wunderlich is a contemporary ceramic master. She was born in Akron, Ohio and received her BFA from Brigham Young University and an MFA from The Ohio State University. She teaches Ceramics and Design at Ashland University. Wunderlich will spend this summer in Dresden, Germany on a residency studying modern and historic techniques of porcelain figurine manufacturing at the Meissen Factory in Meissen, Germany. She is also a Boston-qualifying marathon runner. She was profiled in a documentary Who Does She Think She Is? and The New York Times said of her, “Janis Wunderlich, on the other hand, seems cheerfully adept at managing five children, a husband and a successful career as a sculptor.” Wunderlich lives in Ohio.

JMW3Janis1 JMW51890504_206572726200303_1871758340663459878_oJanis2JMW2

How would you describe your art and your style? My last name ‘Wunderlich’ in German means wonderful in a rare, strange, or odd way. This is how I describe my art; I am trying to capture the beauty, joy, and corresponding strangeness and difficulties of everyday life. I find so many contrasts and dichotomies in family relationships and the seemingly insignificant events of daily living… Just like God tells us: Giving us the bitter so we can recognize the sweet. I am trying to share my very personal narrative in a way that will resonate on a universal level.

You grew up and live in Ohio. I grew up across the river in Kentucky. How has this Midwest upbringing shaped your art? How did it shape your faith? We were the only Mormons in our community. My brothers and I were the only Mormons at school. We were known as THE Mormon Family. We were an anomaly, oddballs… mysterious and in a category all to ourselves. I grew up accustomed to the notion of being completely different from everyone else. I think my eccentric, individual artistic style grew from this upbringing.

You once said, “Being a mother is a deep part of why I have joy.” Explain. I married and began a family when I was very young. This movement from being a child into become a mother happened so quickly and had a huge impact on my identity. Nurturing children became my duty, but more importantly, my entire purpose; providing an indescribable sense of joy. It built me up and exhausted me at the same time (see what I mean about contrasts?!). Now, as my children are growing up and becoming independent, I find my transitioning roles more fluid and mysterious, and I am forced to look deeply into myself to redefine who I am.

Visit Janis Mars Wunderlich’s website.

Follow Janis Mars Wunderlich on Instagram.

JMW1