Meet Gayle Antonides | BSW & Ceramic Artist/Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gayle Antonides and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gayle, how do you think about risk?
For me, risk is scary but necessary. At this point I can look back at past risks and know that I’ve yet to regret any I’ve taken, and with time come to understand that things work out exactly how they are meant to. So if I want to make something happen I have to take a risk and if it isn’t hard then I will not gain anything. You have to take risks to reap the rewards. That’s true in every aspect of life. If you feel stuck, know that making the change necessary to break free will feel horrible, but one day you will look back and think, I can’t believe I’m living the life I always dreamed of now.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I create functional and sculptural ceramic art in my studio in Key West. Much of my art focuses on the idea of feminism, traditional craft, and family dynamic. You will find that I often create from a social work lense and hide heavier messages behind even the pieces that appear simple. I enjoy mixed media most, I love learning new traditional craft to implement into pieces such as beading, wire work, and basket weaving. “Becoming an artist” wasn’t what was hard about my artistic journey, because I was always an artist. Everyone is. What was hard was coming to terms with it. I think society implements this idea that you need to do something bigger and more important that art, but in reality art is the most important, and to be an artist is to be selfless, the world needs your creations, and needs you to find the bravery to share them rather than keep them to yourself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend were visiting me in key west we’d start our morning at Baby’s Coffee, spend the day on the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor, have dinner at Blue Heaven, get some ice cream at Wicked Licks, listen to some music at General Horseplay, end the night with a spooky ghost tour on the Old Town Trolley and cross our fingers that we don’t have a parking ticket when we get back to the car!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I was in high school I struggled a lot with my mental health. Art class was a safe haven and my art instructor Shannon Perkins who runs non profit One World One Canvas invited me to travel with her group to help implement art programs into school systems and orphanages in Haiti. We proceeded to travel to several other countries including Nicaragua, Panama, & Cuba. This was my first introduction to providing services within systems and how I decided to study social work in college. When I came to understand that the traditional approach to social work was not where I succeeded she was the one to give me the wheel and kiln I use in my studio to this day. Shannon is one of those people who doesn’t say no. If it wasn’t for her my life would be completely different. She’s been the wind that directed my sail ever since I was a young teenager and I’m so grateful for the direction in which she steered me.

Website: https://www.bugceramicskeywest.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugceramicspottery/

Image Credits
Gayle Antonides