Ceramics Artist Combines Painting, Drawing with Clay

A quick pottery lesson: A closed sphere made of clay will explode in the intense heat of a kiln without an opening for air to escape. Make a needle hole in the clay and a hiss of air comes out.

That breath of air feels like the piece is “coming to life—it’s symbolic,” says ceramics artist Danielle Barzditis.

Focusing on mosaics—fitting pieces of clay tile together in a design—Barzditis will be among the teachers for the inaugural season of art classes at the , 1243 State Street.

Barzditis has many styles of clay work in her basement studio: vases in black with streams of barnacle shapes spilling over the sides, a beautifully detailed statue of
Venus with a finish that looks like bronze, big and little painted orbs, and her current projects, large mosaic wall pieces.

From a distance, the orbs pop with splashes of vivid color. Look closer and discover a tableau of images and shapes representative of places Barzditis  has been. Each piece should be seen all the way around as one painted thought leads to another.

Barzditis worked in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for a time. Bonfires on the beach were “awesome”  and inspired an orb in blue, yellow and orange with fireworks in a starry night sky and flame shapes.

Another orb is painted with figures and buildings in red, black and white, and represents London, where Barzditis studied at Regents College.

Barzditis is working on two large wall hangings. Mosaic pieces are mounted on several separate lengths of wood. Viewed as a whole, the pieces come together as a painting.

Barzditis said her love of art was nurtured by her mother who allowed her and her sister to “do what they wanted” creatively.

"(If we wanted to paint a bedroom), my mom would say, ‘Sure. Let’s get paint and I’ll show you how,'" she said.

Barzditis said she once painted the bathroom with frogs. Her sister painted a forest on her walls.

Barzditis describes her work as combining painting and drawing, and applying them to ceramics.

The Lemont Center for the Arts will offer classes through the end of July. Classes may be canceled if enrollment doesn’t meet a minimum.

Send a check payable to “Village of Lemont A&CC” to Mona Parry, 13717 W. Meath Drive, Homer Glen IL 60491. Include the name of the class and your name, address, email and age of child.

For more information on classes, call Parry, chairwoman of the Lemont Arts and Culture Commission, at 708-301-7496.

Classes for Teens and Adults

Beginning Ceramics

Mondays and Wednesdays, July 6 - July 27, 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.; teacher Danielle Barzditis; $40 plus $55 for material. Enroll by June 30.

Fantastic Floorcloths

Fridays, July 8-29, 7-9:30 p.m.; teacher Mona Parry; $75 plus $10 for material. Enroll by June 30.

Beginning Oil Painting

Saturdays, July 30-Aug.27, 2-4 p.m.; teacher Art Garibay; $75. Enroll by July 24.

Classes for Children

Still Life Study

Thursdays, June 30 - July 21, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.; teacher Maggie Poplawski; $45
plus $5 for material; age 9 and up. Enroll by June 26.

Modern Movements

Saturdays, July 2-9, 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.; teacher Maggie Poplawski; $30 plus $5 for material; age 9 and up. Enroll by June 26.

Green Home Design

Friday-Saturday, July 15-16, 10 a.m. - noon; teacher Cyn O’Brien; $35 plus $12 for materials; age 11 and up.  Enroll by July 10.

Friendship Bracelet

Thursday, July 21, 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.; teacher Betty Burian Kirk; $15 plus $1 for materials; age 6 and up. Enroll by July 17.

Natural Art

Saturday-Sunday, July 23-24, 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.; teacher Maggie Poplawski; $30 plus $5 for materials; age 9 and up. Enroll by July 17.

Fun with Line Drawing

Saturday, July 23, 10 a.m. - noon; teacher Cyn O’Brien; $25 plus $5 for materials; age 9 and up. Enroll by July 17.