Darby Ortolano

Murphrysboro, Illinois

Darby Ortolano worked in clay on her own for many years before earning a bachelor of fine arts in ceramics at the Kansas City Art Institute and then Southern Illinois University at Carbondale for a Master’s in Fine Arts.  She now works as an assistant professor at John A. Logan College teaching beginning drawing, ceramics, 3D Design and Art Appreciation.

Ortolano's ceramic art work has become simplified over the past few years partly in response to her demanding teaching schedule, and partly from a desire to concentrate on form and all its potential variety.

Ortolano is constantly nourished by the beauty of southern Illinois.  For the first time she has a garden, which has become a focal point in her life, and has also become an element in her ceramic work.  The first work to come from this new inspiration were several sculptural pieces.  These sculptures were a series of elongated oval dishes that rested inside each other, with delicate pinched edges.  They influenced and inspired her to a new way of considering functional artwork.  Rather than decorating her work with floral imagery, the form of the pots and dished convey this inspiration.

Ortolano has been stacking pots into all kinds of configurations.  The nesting bowls relate to many elements in nature and have footed pedestals reminiscent of early Asian pots.  A vase form rests in the center of the three bowls. Luncheon sets include a plate, cup & saucer, soup or salad bowl, and desert plate.  They can be displayed as a stacked sculptural form and then disassembled into a table setting.

“I find I am becoming interested in scale, especially as I continue to explore nature’s forms, and look carefully at the astounding complexity around me.  I happily look forward to seeing how this interest will show up in new work.”