Ceramic artist featured at Thyen-Clark Cultural Center

Jasper Community Arts will exhibit the work of Evansville ceramics artist Todd A. Matteson for February, March, and April 2023 at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center.

Mattson’s ceramic and ceramic art pieces are influenced by his Native American heritage.

“During my childhood, my grandmother talked a lot about my Native American heritage,” Matteson stated. “It was something she wanted to hand over to us to continue. It wasn’t until I became an artist in college that it would affect who I was and what I made.”

Since people walked this earth, vessels have had a timeless identity as storage containers—for food and drinks, and for souls and spirits. My bowls are an expression of my love for traditional shapes and Native American designs, as well as basic 2D design and tribal tattoos. The compositions and design aspects of pottery and textiles appealed to me. My designs are inspired by the photos I have taken throughout my life journey. Each design is unique, meaningful and tattooed onto the bowl. Matteson said that the vessel and the symbol become one, sacred.

“The glaze on the vessels contrasts boldly with the skin of the terracotta. They blend and burn naturally in the terracotta, causing halos of color around the designs and enhancing the shapes. The halos are formed from the chemicals in the glaze that saturate the terracotta body. I chose hues of turquoise as a palette Basic.The colors are calm yet…