Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zak Ashburn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Zak, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Through my thesis work I explore the nuanced hybridity of my identity, bridging the gap between my roots in Appalachian South and my first-generation Filipino heritage. Through a unique combination of traditional Kalinga ceramic construction practices and references to the Appalachian crafting tradition of quilting, I create a powerful body of work that challenges societal constructs and paves the way for self-reclamation and decolonization.

As a child growing up in the Bible Belt of East Tennessee, navigating the complexities of my dual cultural upbringing, often left me feeling displaced and disconnected. Drawing from lived experience, I weave together the rivers, forests, and cherished memories of my Appalachian home with a critical reflection on the politics and sense of otherness that plague me till today. The resulting installation, aptly titled All of Me, became a transformative ritual of self-expression, granting myself agency over my own body and a platform to articulate the journey of decolonization.

By seamlessly fusing historical Filipino ceramic techniques and the symbolism found in quilting, through All of Me I construct a multidimensional narrative that explores colonization, authenticity, identity, and hybridity. Each facet of this work represents a deconstruction and reconstruction of my whole being, challenging the boundaries imposed upon my body and psyche. Through this artistic endeavor, I seek to reclaim my rejected aspects and confront the ongoing scrutiny of my genuineness and authenticity.

All of Me serves as a testament to the unique history and lived experiences that shape my individuality Effectively dismantling preconceived notions of what defines a quilt, a body, and authenticity itself. This work reminds us that our narratives are ours to shape, and our experiences are legitimate, irrespective of external judgment.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As an artist I work through many different mediums ceramics, photography, sculpture, fiber, metal, and items like food. I recently just graduated with my BFA in sculpture but I got my start over 12 years ago in ceramics. My practice has changed over the years but so has the conceptuality I work into the pieces I make. There are two sides to my creative practice one part being heavily craft based, where I focus on making products for sale, and the second part being more contemporary and conceptual. I am constantly trying to put as much of me as I can in my art and adapt it so my so that it can be the best possible which is what I think sets my work apart from some. As an artist I pride myself in the ability to adapt and overcome any creative block. What I would want people to know most about my work is that I am constantly pouring my soul into everything I do which can be seen in the high level of craftsmanship and conceptuality.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I was working on my thesis work I ran into a number of troubles with the large main vessel that I was making for the centerpiece. This vessel was so big that I had to build it in the kiln, and continually work on it everyday for almost a month to keep the clay from drying irregularly. After all this work and time spent when it came out of the kiln there was a large crack in it. After calming down about it I ended up having to patch it with grout, spray paint the whole thing, and then bee’s wax it all. It was very defeating to have that happen and have it not be perfect but the final installation looked amazing and nobody even knew the difference.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

To me NFTs are valid in themselves but do not necessarily belong within the art world. They seem more geared for consumption and make to be sold for much more than they are worth. I cannot deny them as a whole but if considering them as art objects I think we would have to look at them on a case to case basis. We would have to consider time spent, skill, intention and conceptuality of the creator before we decide that it is art. they honestly seem like a trend     

Contact Info:

• Website: Warentare.com
• Instagram: zak.ashburn