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University Archivist Hope Dunbar smiles after finishing a piece on the pottery wheel in the ceramics studio at Buffalo State University. A sign of an expert is the cleanliness of their clothes after working at the wheel, Dunbar notes.
Photos and text by MEREDITH FORREST KULWICKI
Published May 16, 2024
Editor’s note: This is another installment of "Out of Office," a regular series highlighting UB faculty and staff who pursue interesting hobbies, community engagement and other endeavors outside of their day jobs.
“There’re a million things that can go wrong. So, when it goes perfectly it's just magic.”
University Archivist Hope Dunbar has spent the past seven years perfecting her art in a basement ceramics studio at Buffalo State University. The evolution of her work is on display with her capstone project, "UNYIELDING," on view through May 21 at The Crucible Art Collective, 334 Connecticut St., Buffalo.
“It’s been a real journey,” Dunbar says. “Learning what works for me and what my aesthetic is and what I like and what I don’t like. It’s taken me a while to find my style.”
“She relishes and thrives on a challenge, especially a technical challenge, and has developed an approach to clay that explores a variety of different forms and ideas,” Robert Wood, professor of art and design, and coordinator of the Buffalo State ceramics program, says of Dunbar.
Dunbar says going through an academic program had more of an impact on her artistic development that she expected, with the focus on learning how to look at art, how to think about what is being created and how to design for a goal. Her attention to detail and dedication to learning the practice impressed others.
“She sets high standards and expectations for herself and strives to uphold those standards in her work,” says Robert Wood, professor of art and design, and coordinator of the ceramics program at Buffalo State. “She brings to the studio energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to explore ideas, to be curious and inquisitive.”
Dunbar says working with clay, especially when throwing at the wheel, takes complete focus. “You have to really be in the moment; you can't be thinking about other things or it just doesn't work.”
Dunbar’s pieces include a large spectrum of functional items — from everyday household china to decorative, spike-covered vessels. She has created her own recipes for the clay and glazes, referencing a four-inch binder full of her successes and missteps along the way. Regardless of the product, Dunbar says working with clay has given her an outlet and balance to life.
“Throwing on the wheel is almost like a form of meditation,” she says. “It’s so relaxing to me. And then I get to make all these beautiful things that I can share with my friends and family.”
“A lot of the decal images that I use on my pieces are from 18th-century illustrative texts,” Dunbar explains. The iron oxide decals most often depict botanical themes.
For this coming holiday season, Dunbar has already started working on a collection of ornaments. They mix her talent with clay and design with her passion for history.
“A lot of the decal images that I use on my pieces are from 18th-century illustrative texts,” Dunbar explains. The iron oxide decals most often depict botanical themes. “Not to ruin the surprise, but this year the ornament theme is going to feature holly and mistletoe.”
Dunbar cleans up each historical image using photo-editing software, then stretches and warps the decal to fit a 3D ceramic object.
Left: Dunbar keeps a record of her past work, including notes on glazing examples. The binder helps her replicate previous successes.
Right: The markings on these pieces show the evolution of Dunbar’s practice in ceramics. On the right, with an early piece, she wrote her name. On the left, the piece bares her personal stamp.
As the show and her time in the Buffalo State program wrap up, Dunbar is brainstorming her next steps. At the moment, this means anything from a private studio space to creating art for community fundraisers.
“I never went into this to become a professional ceramicist,” Dunbar says. “I went into this because I needed an artistic outlet, and clay was just a wonderful fit for me.
“I’m focused on feeling comfortable with where I am with my art and being able to share it with the community.”