Reese Girdner
He/Him
Cozad, Nebraska
“Reese Girdner was born in central Nebraska and he is a PK-12 Art Education major with a minor in 3D Studio Art. He is a ceramic artist whose work explores the balance between functional wheel-thrown forms and ornate decoration to symbolize the desire to be understood and connect with others. He is a recipient of the Stevie Wilson DIY Young Artists Residency grant and he has spent time as summer workstudy at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (Gatlinburg, TN). He has had artwork displayed at the Museum of Nebraska Art (Kearney, NE), the LUX Center for the Arts (Lincoln, NE), the Radial Arts Center (Omaha, NE), the Artists' Cooperative Gallery (Omaha, NE), the Brickwalk Gallery (Kearney, NE) where he is a member of the Brickwalk Collective, and he is a Mug Program member at Cedar Creek Coffee & Art (Elkhorn, NE).”
“My work explores the relationship between functional forms, ornate sculptural decoration, and pattern as a reflection on community and human connection. Utilizing ornate decoration and pattern is an act of care toward what is being created. It transforms the functional piece into something meant to be cherished and shared with others. Drawing inspiration from literature, film, religion, mythology, philosophy, and other media, I create pieces that observe the love we have for one another, the communities we create, the friendships we grow, and the memories we make along the way. Sculpted imagery of plants, bugs, and other flora and fauna are the voice for themes of perseverance, transformation, and exploration. My work reveals the deeply personal ways we imbue what we love in what we create.”
@rgirdnerop
How does your work relate to the theme of restoration?
“Growing up as a transgender man in central Nebraska often felt extremely isolating. It was only after moving out and starting college that I was able to start transitioning. This year is my final year of college and creating A Place for Wings is meant as an ode to this chapter in my life, which was filled with celebration, grief, and repairing myself.”
"A Place For Wings" Reese Girdner
How does your creative practice allow you to restore (renew, return, reclaim, recover)?
“My artwork creates a place I can return to that is free from judgment and the weight of expectation. Each piece is an opportunity to celebrate human connection and the love we are capable of sharing with one another. In creating these spaces, my work reminds me of the goodness that exists within people and the possibility of finding it even in difficult times.”
As a queer+, artist, what do you see can be, needs to be, or cannot be restored?
“As a queer artist and educator, I believe one of the things that can be restored is the way LGBTQ+ youth are supported and regarded within our public schools. Resources and spaces for LGBTQ+ students are increasingly being restricted or dismissed as “inappropriate,” despite the importance of prioritizing the well-being and mental health of young people. Being LGBTQ+ is not inherently vulgar or inappropriate, and every student deserves to feel safe, supported, and welcomed within our schools.”
Photographs Courtesy of the Artist