天美传媒

For Aubrey Maurer, 3D design and sculpture with ceramics have been a natural fit with her artistic leanings.聽

鈥淭he handmade element, the 3D element of sculpture expands that flat 2D feel, and it just comes to me.鈥澛�

The 2022 Fine Art BFA graduate has been selected for Millersville University鈥檚 Emerging Artist Residency and will bring those sculptural and ceramics skills to Millersville this fall.聽

“Calla Lily,” Aubrey Maurer, handmade clay

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to get back into learning again,鈥� Maurer says. 鈥淭he rhythm of going to school, and being surrounded by people who have the same interests, that community 鈥� the resources and pulling in all that knowledge.鈥�

In addition to expanding her own ceramics knowledge base, the residency offers Maurer the opportunity to instruct and mentor Millersville seniors, sharing her own experience at the same time as she鈥檚 expanding it under the guidance of Ceramics professor Deborah S. Sigel.

“Cascade,” Aubrey Maurer, handmade clay

Building on a personal connection to her art

Back in May, Maurer was honored at Commencement with the Fine Art departmental award. An affinity for nature and the handmade deeply resonates in Maurer鈥檚 sculptural work. Her senior thesis project, a collection of organic sculptural pieces, showcased the natural surroundings of her Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, home.

That collection began by gathering rich, clay-based mud from a creek flowing through her family鈥檚 property. Maurer then removed foreign materials from the mud and spread it out on a stone slab in her apartment, allowing it to dry to the correct consistency before kneading it into a block and then working it on a wheel or by hand. Because her pieces were not kiln-fired, they could eventually be broken back down into their fully original state and returned to nature.聽

“Sandy Dollar,” Aubrey Maurer, handmade clay

In high school, her art teacher Kerry Herring, 鈥渁 favorite teacher of all time, pushed me in the direction of ceramics,鈥� Maurer says, 鈥渁nd really into the world of sculpture鈥� at North Schuylkill Junior/Senior High School. That love of 3D elements and sculpture was reinvigorated in her sophomore year at 天美传媒&D in a class with Prof. Evan Kitson聽and expanded exponentially from there.

As she gears up for her Emerging Artist Residency, Maurer is eager to tap into that spirit of mentorship that has guided her art career so far 鈥� sharing her own knowledge with other artists at the same time as she continues to refine her own practice.聽

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to get into the teaching aspect a little bit,鈥� says Maurer. 鈥淚 really like being part of that kind of community.鈥�

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