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Ciro Di Ruocco | Episode 490
Ciro Di Ruocco is an emerging visual artist/curator, splitting his time between studios in Nanaimo, BC, Canada and his hometown of Duxbury, Vermont. Ciro’s work in ceramics is complimented by an affinity for printmaking and surface/ texture design. Ciro combines a utilitarian sensibility with a contemporary street art aesthetic, fusing his own imagery to create works that are inspired by our daily lives. Ciro is currently an MFA candidate at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
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How do you go about finding a mentor?
Well, you can have many mentors for the many different areas of your life. For me and you it was about business, social media, and ceramics. We had that mutual understanding. There needs to be this mutual feeling. Like I had a student who came over who had graduated the other day and he was looking to buy clay from me and so we did that and we talked about our mutual interest and what our work was about and I was like, Yeah,I would like to have you in my studio. If you want to learn how to fire we can trade services for that. So it needs to feel right. I can’t explain it but there needs to be this mutual understanding between the two individuals. As a mentor you are really giving and you can’t have expectation of what the outcome may be.
What do you want out of the mentor relationships you have in your life?
I think to build a long lasting relationship with mutual trust and respect. It may start as a mentor/mentee relationship but we eventually become friends. And really close friends, I think that is the ultimate goal.
What have you found to be the ingredient for a good mentor?
I think someone who is patient and understanding that the students are still learning and that they are going to make mistakes. And instead of having a shame-guilt based system and approach, you acknowledge the mistake and say, Next time I need you to communicate x, y, and z. For me that direct form of communication and being like This is what I expect,this is what I need. Is really important for me as a mentee and as a mentor to communicate my expectations of the other person.
What makes a good mentee?
I think someone who is eager to learn and also understands the value of research and reading. And isn’t scared to make a mistake. Because if you are just operating in your comfort level then you are not really getting out of the mentor-ship what you need. I recently had a mentor who pushed me and it helped me make work I have never made before. He was really good about pushing me outside of my comfort zone and keeping me there.
Is your goal to become a master or to get better?
I think my goal is always to get better. Every day I wake up and I want to be the best version of me today. It’s not like I want to be the master print-maker ceramic artist. I don’t think about it like that. I think about it like how can I set myself up for success tomorrow and be the best person I can be today.
What do you hope to get done in the next three months?
I hope to have my studio fully up and running. So kiln firing, electrical updated, hopefully fulfill some gallery orders that have been on back order. Which is awesome and thank you. Also I hope to teach some more workshops and I hope to have an amazing NCECA experience. And to be an awesome assistant curator for Miriko and help her exhibition come alive. I am happy that I get to be in a supportive role for her.
Why are you getting a Master’s Degree?
Because I am teaching things and because I have a voice that I need to say something. So to have that pedigree of a Master’s Degree and maybe I will go on to get my PhD, I don’t know. It’s possible. Because I am not inspiring to be a production potter, that’s not my career track. It’s like I am going to be an international exhibiting artist and I am going to talk about topics related to sleep and addiction and I really need to do lots of research to do that kind of work and that level of work, so I need extra time in the library. And I need help paying for that. So I am getting my Master’s because I need to be in the library researching and I also need to have a studio. And it is helpful to have mentors and the program I am in you get to pick your own mentors and that’s pretty awesome.
Book
Graphic Clay by Jason Bige Burnett
Contact
Instagram: @cirocapri84