Essay on Ceramics and Architecture

Aliberti Art Tile specializes in producing a wide variety of structural and ornamental ceramic elements that can be applied to various interior and exterior surfaces, as well as freestanding forms to be placed in any arena. I utilize repetitive patterning to portray the spatial relationships of a building to the occupant. Tile draws attention to the structural dynamics of the space. It can accentuate a doorway pronouncing its importance to the function of the space. Ceramic ornamentation along a corridor gives the eye an image to follow though the building, enriching the experience for the occupant. The ornament not only draws the occupant's attention through the portal; it turns their passage into a tactile aesthetic experience. This reflects on the presence of the building as a whole.

Integrating ceramic artwork creates a more substantial presence than either art or site could contain separately. There is a renewed belief that a building is more then just a utilitarian shell but rather it is a vibrant space that can be complemented by ornamentation. For instance, including tables, planters or benches in a courtyard creates a welcoming environment. Distinct design elements add detail and textures to the larger fields that invite a person in. The tile becomes a functional aspect of the over all structure.

Ceramics lends a more intimate scale to a site. Colors, details and textural rhythms give an image to identify with as well as the mark of a personal touch that humanizes the site. My art not only draws attention to a site, it creates distinction and a rewarding experience for the visitor, making the building a more memorable place to visit. I wish to inspire excellence in thought through enlightened surroundings.

There are many advantages to using ceramics for architectural ornament. Ceramics are particularly well suited to the outdoors. The pigments and clay-body are made of ecologically benign minerals that are fired to vitrification, strengthening it to withstand severe weather and public usage. It will not spall due to freezing temperatures. It incurs no degradation in color or form and the art remains vibrant indefinitely. Ceramics are among the most durable materials known to humanity.

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My intent is to permanently enhance our built surroundings in a tactile public vernacular that is interactive by nature. My art reflects the composition and function of a site. I accentuate the forms of a building by applying a combination of patterns that help pronounce key elements of the architect’s design. I aspire to influence the whole site by creating tile designs that repeat the geometric rhythms of the site.

Many of my designs are scanned in and overlaid onto the site in a C. A. D. program rendering a concept in scale model to be refined. The resulting image helps the client to visualize the art in the setting both near and at a distance. This allows me great freedom to experiment with all the particularities of my design, insuring greater command over the composition.

My patterns on the printed tiles derive from original sketches or found images that are manipulated in a graphics application. The patterning consists of polychromatic forms that are reminiscent of the geometry and materials used in construction and may include iconic imagery that speaks to the activities or history of the site. I create silk-screened photo tile, polychromatic tile, extruded ceramic molding, and hand-made relief tile, as well as larger dimensional terra cotta building units. I use all these techniques to produce complete murals, individual accent and field tile, and freestanding sculptural forms such as fountains, benches and tables. The printed enamel tile is kiln fired causing the photographic image to fuse with the surface glaze of the tile. The relief tile starts as a hand model clay original that I cast in plaster. This mold is then pressed with fresh clay to produce a number of tiles that are fired to vitrification at 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures the longevity of my installations because the work will never fade in the sun or flake in freezing temperatures due to it’s bonded ceramic characteristics.

I am drawn to producing colorful imagery and modeled sculptural forms. I derive much pleasure from the dance of color and line in combination with the play of light across a sculpted surface. For the sake of the patron's investment, I value durability and permanence for my work and desire to influence how and where it is viewed. I am most interested in producing Public Art whether the site is publicly owned or not, as long as it is accessible or better yet essential to daily routines. It is a realm where thousands may appreciate art and the setting daily, for instance, at a transit hub or restaurant. I see a need in contemporary development to enrich the buildings and the dwindling public spaces of our environment. I wish to improve society by securing endearing spaces for the future.

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I have tailored my artwork to be the ideal medium for environmentally sustainable, zero maintenance, permanent installations. My personally engineered clay-body has a high recycled-material content; the pigments and clay-body are made of ecologically benign minerals that are fired to vitrification. This ensures the longevity of our installations. The work remains vibrant for millennia and does not spall due to freezing temperatures. The surface is very tactile and vibrant. Ceramics are among the most durable materials known to humanity.

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Art in the public arena is a realm where thousands can appreciate art daily, reinforcing a sense of ownership and pride in the community. We accomplish this by including pictorial murals that are able to tell the story of a place and add visual stimulus or narrative to a structure. I approach every individual installation by considering the unique characteristics of the space and seek to accentuate the existing circumstances with my site-specific artwork. This public vernacular lends a more human scale to a site; colors, details and textural rhythms give the eye an image to explore, to identify with through a tactile exploration. Aliberti Art Tile has combined ornament with functional objects to transform a vacant courtyard at an existing neo-gothic building into a pleasant gathering place that is stylistically appropriate to the surrounding building. 2 large terra cotta planters, a fountain, 2 tile tables, 6 hanging pots and a garden provide the occupants of the building with an inspiring outdoor environment. It helps to draw them into the courtyard and has the potential to improving a citizen's likelihood of identifying with the site.

Aliberti Art Tile ceramic work is particularly well suited to the public environment. For the sake of the patron's investment, I value durability and permanence for my work. The pigments and clay-body are made of ecologically benign minerals. Our ceramics are fired to vitrification, strengthening it to withstand severe weather and public usage. It will not spall due to freezing temperatures. It incurs no degradation in color or form and the art remains vibrant indefinitely. There is very little need for any maintenance over the course of the materials tremendously long life span. Ceramics are among the most durable materials known to humanity.

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