about

Sea Star (also named Carmen Jimenez) is a sustainable object maker. Their work is for all who live on this earth.  They rescue materials that are being disposed of and hand craft new wares for their neighbors. Sea sculpts wares out of locally harvested clay, slumped glass bottles, newspaper pulp, and various plastics. The oddments are intended to be loved by the modern human user, and the future generations of life to inherit the treasured artifacts. Scrappy but intentional, the work asks the user to deeply reconsider their consumption and their relationship with the planet.


Please touch, use, and love these objects.


curriculum vitae


CARMEN JIMENEZ // SEA STAR

06.02.1999

carmenmakesthings@gmail.com

ig: @seastarstudiio

 

Education

2022  

BFA, magna cum laude, Interdisciplinary Sculpture, Minor Ceramics, Sustainability + Social Practice, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Baltimore, MD

2020  

Osaka Gakuin University, Suita, Osaka Prefecture, Japan (Japanese language courses)

2017

Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Highlands, NJ

 

 

Residencies, Exhibitions, and Events 

 

2024

Be The Wave with Eduardo Jimenez recycled art workshop, Camden NJ

"Eggy" Exhibiting Artist, Philadelphia, PA

NCECA Multicultural Fellowship Recipient, Richmond VA

Craft Coven Community Ceramics Facilitator, Philadelphia PA

2023

Trans Art Mart Vendor, Philadelphia PA

Vicarious Love Vendor, Philadelphia PA

Artist Talk,  Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle ME 

Resident Artist Worker, House of Dirt Studio, Guaynabo PR

2022

Conscious Oddments, Gateway Gallery, Baltimore MD 

Something Long, Preposterous, and Somewhat Cumbersome, Fox 3 Gallery, Baltimore MD 

2021

Halloween Indoor Market, Philadelphia PA 

Medusa’s Market, Philadelphia PA 

Phoenix Festival, Camden NJ 

2020

Restoration Artist Residency, Yellow Bird Artscape, Woodbury TN 

Artist Talk, Cumberland University, Cumberland TN 

Art Night 2020 Organizer, Echo Lake, Fayette ME 

2019

Earth Echoes, Gateway Gallery, Baltimore MD 

Sign Language: Breaking Down Behavior Brown Center, Baltimore MD 

Art Market Student Vendor, Brown Center, Baltimore, MD

Brigantine Art Walk, The Sea Wall, Brigantine NJ

2018

MICA Juried Exhibition, Meyerhoff Gallery, Baltimore MD

Fiber Art Exhibition Middendorf Gallery, Baltimore MD

Brigantine Art Walk, The Sea Wall, Brigantine NJ

 

Experience

2024

Glaze Technician [spray, dip, and brush ceramic glaze application, cone 10 gas kiln firing, decal application and firing, production quality control] Felt and Fat, Philadelphia PA

Wheel Throwing Instructor [weekly teen class ages 13-18, assist first time and experienced potters, introduction to contemporary philadelphia ceramic artists]  Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia PA

2023

Garden Maintenance Crew  [plant identification, weeding, pruning, tree planting, fertilizing, out of state transportation] Roofmeadow Services, Philadelphia PA

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts Technical Assistant [studio assistant to Justin Donofrio, colored porcelain sculpture workshop,  Deer Isle ME

2022

Ceramic Production Assistant, [recycling clay, rolling slabs, relief printing, customer relationships] Beatriz Marti Ceramics, Guaynabo PR

Ceramic Production Assistant [hand produce mugs from start to finish] CONLOQUE, Cupey PR

Flower Show Salesperson [sold heirloom seeds, art, gardening tools] Hudson Seed Company, Philadelphia PA

2021

Artist Apprentice [construction, landscaping, earthen plastering, mural painting] A New View Camden, Camden NJ

Production Assistant and Retail Worker [customer relationships, shipping and receiving, managed financial transactions] Ceramic Concept, Philadelphia PA

Pottery Assistant [glaze mixing, wheel throwing, hand building, maintaining firing schedules] Susan Demay Pottery, Smithville, TN

Carpentry Apprentice [built a porch, chicken coop, door frames, floors, planters] Monstera Acre, Dowelltown TN

Flower Show Salesperson [sold heirloom seeds, art, gardening tools] Hudson Seed Company, Philadelphia PA

2020

Organic Farm Worker World Wide Opportunites on Organic Farms, [landscape designer, grounds keeper, and gardener]

Pottery Instructor, [firing kiln, recycling clay, mixing glazes, sanitizing tools, teaching children] Camp Winnebago, Fayette, ME

The Noyes Arts Garage Intern, [Conducted interviews, created social media content, designed at-home virtual art lessons] The Arts Garage, Atlantic City, NJ

 

Awards

2020

Public Health Associate in Camping, 

Merit Achievement Award

2017-2021

MICA Dean’s List

MICA Creative Vision Award

MICA DaVinci Award

2016

Cleveland Institute of Art Pre-College Scholarship

 

Publications

2020

Noyes Museum of Art, Recycled Plastic Charms Art Project, Hammonton NJ

Noyes Museum of Art, Macramé Wall Art Project, Hammonton NJ

Stockton University, Recycled Plastic Charms Art Project, Atlantic City NJ

Stockton University, Macramé Wall Art Project, Atlantic City NJ