Compositions
Erik Haagensen

Erik Haagensen Artist Statement

Clay is an amazing media with unmatched potential for varied form, texture, surface, and artistic intent. It is timeless, enduring, archetypal, seductive and mysterious to work with. With clay, there is more than a lifetime's worth to experiment with.

My art work is guided by interests in human evolution and history, the force of faith and ideas in shaping our reality, and our collective future. The unbroken chain of our species as it plays out over time, and how the aliens view us millions of years from now. Right now, I think it is very important to both be playful and to produce finely crafted objects.

In America, we work too hard and don't value play enough…to the point of being uncivilized, to the detriment of our families and our own psychological health. We need to retreat from the sound-byte infotainment of our plastic McCulture. We need to slow down, sacrifice for the future, and make difficult choices in this culture of convenience.

To make things by hand from clay is an act of rebellion, of intentional inefficiency, of retro and reflection, of refusing to cede it all to the machines. I want to make things that make people laugh or be amused or playfully confused or quietly delighted. I want to make things that make people slow down and appreciate the everyday, to reflect on their surroundings, and to think about where we are heading.

Erik Haagensen Artist Resume

Education

Georgetown University, B.S. in Business Administration, 1993, with additional coursework in Art History, Studio Arts, Psychology, Philosophy, and Theology

Classes and workshops since 2001: Adrian Arleo, Wally Asselberghs, Rick Berman, John Britt, Steven Branfman, Joy Brown, Kyle Carpenter, Lisa Clague, Tony Clennell, Arlene Cohen, Cynthia Consentino, Cristina Cordova, Judith Duff, Debra Fritts, Gwen Fryar, Annette Gates, Silvie Granatelli, Niel Hora, Ken Horvath, Mark Issenberg, Mel Jacobson, Tom Kerrigan, Kathy King, Yosuke Koizume, Leah Leitson, Paul Lewing, Po-Wen Liu, Jennifer Martin, Ron Meyers, Andy Nasisse, Sandra Nissen, Richard Notkin, Jeff Oestreich, Lisa Orr, Vicki Paulet, Mark Peters, Liz Quackenbush, Kari Radasch, Louise Radochonski, Ron Roy, Michael Schmidt, Mark Shapiro, Paul Soldner, Gay Smith, Stacey Stanhope, Kathy Triplett, Liz Zlot Summerfield

Group Exhibits

Earth, invitational group show, Globe Gallery, Clayton, GA, 2007

Miniature Power, a seven artist show, MudFire Gallery, Decatur, GA, 2007

Georgia Pottery Sale, invitational group show, Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA, 2007

MudFire Holiday Studio Sale, MudFire Gallery, Decatur, GA, 2005-2007

MudFire Holiday Studio Sale, MudFire Gallery, Atlanta, GA, 2002-2004

Gallery Zero, a nomadic gallery, 2003-2005

Teapots A-Go-Go, MudFire Gallery, Atlanta, GA. 2004, 2002

Works and Process, Youth Art Connection Gallery, Atlanta, GA 2003

LINEAL, MudFire Gallery, Atlanta, GA 2003

4th Annual Centered on Clay, Cherokee County Arts Center, Canton, GA 2003

Publications

"Firing Mid-Range Reduction at MudFire Clayworks", studio procedures and research reviewed by John Britt, publication pending in a national ceramics review

"David Eichelberger", authored cover article feature length profile, Ceramics Monthly, April 2008

"Rick Berman: Clayworker", dozens of pottery photos for retrospective book, October 2007

"Get Mud Fired Up", studio profile, Sunday Paper newspaper, March 25, 2007

"MudFire Studio Offers New Concept For Those Who Like To Play With Clay", cover story - artist and studio profile, The Story - Central DeKalb news paper, September 15, 2005.

"Potters Keep an Eye on History", artist and studio profile, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 31, 2005

"Serve This", authored four page show review, Clay Times magazine, January-February 2005

"Talk of The Town", quoted in show review, Creative Loafing city paper, May 27, 2004

"Clay Creations", photo in arts calendar, Season magazine, Spring 2004

"Clear as Mud", artist and studio profile, Atlanta Buckhead newspaper, February 2004

"Around Town", vase photo in arts calendar, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine, December 2003

"Starting Over", artist profile, People magazine, February 3, 2003

"MudFire", artist and studio profile, Piedmont Review newspaper, November 2002

Gallery Management - Curating - Judging - Jurying

Atlanta Dogwood Festival, 3D applications juror and 3D awards judge, 2008

Atlanta Arts Festival, 3D application juror and 3D awards judge, 2007

Decatur Arts Festival, applications juror, 2007

Atlanta Teapot Festival, Founder and President, 2006

Works In Clay, Roswell Visual Arts Center, awards judge, 2004

Atlanta Dogwood Festival, 3D applications juror and 3D awards judge, 2004

MudFire Gallery, Gallery Manager and show curator, 60 group and solo shows, 2002-Present

Broadcasting and Performance Art

Portable interactive raku firing, Transformus 2007

Black Rock Breakers performance troupe, Burning Man 2003 - 2004

Get Your Sneeze Ching Right Here, Burning Man 2002

Poetry readings, various Washington DC venues, 1989 - 1995

Murgage, three year series of weekly alternative music radio broadcasts, 1991-1994

Atlanta Cacophony Society, various group performances, 2000-2003

Watch the Little Daisies, collaborative series of schizo-silly radio broadcasts, 1992-1993

Artist Books

Anisocoria, 2006. A profusion of little monsters.

Night Vision, 2005. Digitally altered line drawings.

Beyond Belief, 2003. A psychiatric theological deconstruction.

The Sneeze Ching, 2002. A rival philosophy.

Weasel, 2001. A poem in visual format.

Haagage, 2000. A poetry chapbook with a cow photo.

Hebephrenic Schizophrenia, 1994. A photo essay with captions.

Weasel, 1993. A philosophical treatise.

Sculpture and Installations

Evacuation, 40 pieces outdoors, clay works with light & sound, Transformus 2005

Interstellar Garden Gnomes, 30 pieces outdoors, clay works with light & sound, Transformus 2004

Weasel Installation, the 2001 poem presented as a large scale installation at Burning Man 2001

Frustrator 44, large scale installation at Burning Man 2000

Frustrator 29, large scale installation at Burning Man 1999

The Frustrator series, over 40 small wire and mixed media sculptures, 1997-2003