Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Z ach Medler works with ceramics and
sculptures that present a dignity to rural
America while using undertones of Middle
America realism. His work has been
→
County, the very heart of farm country. He is a
described as Post‐Regionalist and Post‐
graduate of Purdue University where his major was
Media by creating narrative scenes that religion and art his minor. It was not until
use social environments with repeated graduate school that throwing and designing pots,
rural imagery. Printed slabs, painting seemed to appear as something more than making
something with your hands. Now retired
and glazing are the most pronounced Professor Dan Engelke and current Professor
methods used in blending a fairy tale Sigrid Zahner were a huge part of Medler’s
together that renders another story. awakening to art as more than a hobby. Zach is
One of Medler’s
installations is Locality, installation, porcelain
called “County
Fair” and has an
array of the cultural
traditions found at
any carnie festival.
The Ferris wheel,
the carousel, pick‐
up‐the‐duck game
and bottle toss are
typical of a small
town get‐together,
but they also
involve
participation from
the viewers by
turning cranks,
catching fish and
moving pieces
around. Although
fun to watch from a
safe distance from
the comfort of
Middle America,
the scene captures
an eerie undertone of today’s issues and values quick to point out that countless artists and
through interaction. everyone that he has worked with has affected his
Each piece that Medler works has an underlying learning process, and the way he sees his work.
meaning, if the viewer allows it to be captured. “Dan always cut to the chase with me and had a
“Erosion 2008” was selected as a permanent great eye for form and arrangement. He really
installation at the Beard Arts Center at Indiana helped push me in the right direction and
Wesleyan University. The cracking and erosion of continues to be there for me,” said Zach.
the rural scenes represent the loss of small Zach and his wife live in Portland, Indiana, a
business and culture of rural communities. It is region where he has a chance to feel the
considered a fundamental comment on Middle uniqueness of the Midwest through travel, offering
America and depicts what many close their eyes him ideas for his next venture. Aside from making
to. works of art, which can be viewed at: www.zmed‐
Although Medler grew up around Indianapolis, ceramics.com; he teaches ceramics and mixed
he spent much time with his grandparents in Jay media at Arts Place Portland Center.
Lake Shore Drive, teapot, porcelain
Chicago, bottles, porcelain
Magnolia Blossoms, mug, porcelain
Traffic, bowl, porcelain
arttoartpalettejournal.com ©‐ May 2011 ‐ Zack Medler