My first venture into the world of fine art and craft was building and selling kaleidoscopes made of wood and stained glass. As a member of the Brewster Society (for kaleidoscope artists and collectors), I exhibited my kaleidoscopes at the Strathmore Arts Center in Washington, DC in 1993.
In the 1990's, I explored photography and painting. I studied watercolor under local artist Darlene Bennett, then drawing and painting classes from artist Dar Carrol who taught painting at the Knox-Albright Museum in Buffalo, New York. I fell in love with clay when I took courses in ceramics from Dana Groemminger, who is now an accomplished sculptress and ceramics instructor at Perdue University. I have exhibited three times in the “Panorama” annual juried art show in the Erie Summer Arts Festival. My work was shown and sold in the Tom Ridge Environmental Center store gallery (juried) in May, 2007.
I draw much of my inspiration from the beaches, forests and wetlands of Presque Isle on Lake Erie. Specializing in ceramics and woodworking, I first "daydream" my creations and then decide how best to render my vision. One fascinating technique I use is the ancient Japanese art of Raku firing. Ceramic pieces with special glazes are placed orange-hot into a box of leaves or sawdust to cool, resulting in interesting, random colors and metallic lusters. I believe that randomness is the foundation of nature, and therefore strive to make each piece spontaneous and unique. I now live and work in Bluffton, South Carolina, close to Hilton Head Island. My work is sold in galleries and restaurants in the Erie, Pennsylvania region.
FRANK CARAVAGLIA, ARTIST
Frank's Show at Tom Ridge Center, Presque Isle
Digging for Buried Treasure.
