Joel Otterson is a California based artist with more than three decades of experience working across mediums of what he’d like to describe as “from crochet to welding and everything in between”. His work balances camp with seriousness, exploring personal and cultural narratives that are embedded in everyday objects.
Otterson reimagines Ancient Greek pottery with Voluptuous Desire by transforming its iconic clay vase forms into cast metal frameworks, stripping them of their traditional pictorial narratives. In place of mythological scenes, his sculptures feature ornate lacework patterns reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement—a design ethos that emerged in response to the Industrial Revolution and championed skilled and elaborate craftsmanship in domestic objects and furnishings.
Voluptuous Desire, created during Otterson’s 2018 Arts/Industry residency reflects his ongoing exploration of the intersections between craft, industry, and cultural memory. Since 1974, the Arts/Industry residency program continues to be a collaboration between the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and Kohler Co., which offers emerging and established artists the opportunity to create work using industrial processes and materials inside the Kohler Co. Factory.
Joel Otterson is a California based artist with more than three decades of experience working across mediums of what he’d like to describe as “from crochet to welding and everything in between”. His work balances camp with seriousness, exploring personal and cultural narratives that are embedded in everyday objects.
Otterson reimagines Ancient Greek pottery with Voluptuous Desire by transforming its iconic clay vase forms into cast metal frameworks, stripping them of their traditional pictorial narratives. In place of mythological scenes, his sculptures feature ornate lacework patterns reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement—a design ethos that emerged in response to the Industrial Revolution and championed skilled and elaborate craftsmanship in domestic objects and furnishings.
Voluptuous Desire, created during Otterson’s 2018 Arts/Industry residency reflects his ongoing exploration of the intersections between craft, industry, and cultural memory. Since 1974, the Arts/Industry residency program continues to be a collaboration between the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and Kohler Co., which offers emerging and established artists the opportunity to create work using industrial processes and materials inside the Kohler Co. Factory.
Social Choreography Score
By Kim Miller
Social Choreography Score
By Kim Miller
Stand facing the sculpture, a little more than arms length away.
Bring your arms up above your head, or imagine doing so.
Gather your desires for safety, comfort, and love into your arms and draw them closer to you, as you bring your arms forward and cross them in front of you.
Give yourself a hug and hold this for a moment.
Consider how you are a vessel of safety, comfort, and love for yourself and others.
Repeat the gesture - this time when raising your arms above your head, gather safety, comfort, and love for others.
Bring your arms down and cross them in front of you.
Give yourself a hug, and give an imaginary hug to someone who needs it.
Stand facing the sculpture, a little more than arms length away.
Bring your arms up above your head, or imagine doing so.
Gather your desires for safety, comfort, and love into your arms and draw them closer to you, as you bring your arms forward and cross them in front of you.
Give yourself a hug and hold this for a moment.
Consider how you are a vessel of safety, comfort, and love for yourself and others.
Repeat the gesture - this time when raising your arms above your head, gather safety, comfort, and love for others.
Bring your arms down and cross them in front of you.
Give yourself a hug, and give an imaginary hug to someone who needs it.
