16 Statements on Labor
by Nicole Rene Woodard
Artists are blue-collar workers.
Artists in any given discipline possess specialized knowledge and skills that are earned over time.
Artists think critically and intuitively, and they are creative problem solvers.
Artists must be safe in their workspace, use materials properly and safely, and are responsible for disposing waste appropriately.
Artists are frequently exposed to toxic materials that carry long-term health consequences, so artists should use personal protective equipment to safeguard their health.
Artists learn that certain materials are flammable and do not mix, either through proper research or because individual experiments have proven it.
Artists learn how to use materials out of necessity for a project, to deepen their understanding of their trade, to experiment, to push the boundaries into unfamiliar territory, or because they saw someone else do it and they exclaimed, “And so can I!”
Artists work when the studio is calling or when a deadline is looming, keeping regular and irregular hours and working whatever shift is required to complete the job.
Artists use their hands and tools to complete tasks.
Artists learn how to perform hard labor for their specific needs.
Artists building stretchers, pedestals, and crates learn carpentry; artists creating gallery walls learn drywalling; artists building their own kilns learn masonry, electrical, and plumbing…
Artists that move heavy objects must use proper lifting techniques to avoid injury.
Artists learn how to remove stains from their clothing or wear a uniform that can endure their trade.
Artists learn to be savvy when purchasing their materials, shopping at the hardware store when it offers a better deal than the art supply store.
Artists pass down their specialized knowledge through hands-on training.
Artists are hard workers and are deserving of public praise for their labor.
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Nicole Rene Woodard is an artist living in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Nicole was awarded the Foundation Residency at Belger Crane Yard Studios in Kansas City in 2021 and 2022. She has taught foundation and ceramic courses at Benedictine College and the University of Kansas. Nicole is exhibiting nationally and has completed short-term residencies at the Hambidge Center for Arts and Sciences and Penland School of Crafts. Nicole is the Pottery Technician at John Michael Kohler Art Center, supporting resident artists in the Pottery at Kohler Company.