Full Time Ceramic Fabricator

Description

BZIPPY / Bari Ziperstein Studio
Montecito Heights, Los Angeles – studio moving to Burbank starting Oct.1
Seeking a Full-Time Ceramic Fabricator
Full-Time: 5 days a week, 8.5 hrs a day

Who we are:

Founded in 2008 by artist Bari Ziperstein, BZIPPY is known for its experimentation and innovation with ceramic furniture, planters, and home accessories. Working tirelessly to develop engineering methods that challenge conventional notions of slab construction, BZIPPY devises creative solutions to both formal designs and technical concerns. The studio also facilitates the production of collectible design and fine-art work.

The setting for this position is within a 4,500 sq ft artist studio in northeast LA that houses the creation, fabrication, and sale of ceramic sculpture. With seven full-time employees, the studio is a business first and an artist studio second – we offer up to 40 hours per week plus a full benefits package that includes health insurance. In mid-September, the studio is moving to a 9,000 sq ft studio in Sun Valley / Burbank area with a brand new facility.

Company Values

BEAUTY & CRAFTSMANSHIP: Beautifully crafted objects are at the center of everything we do at BZIPPY. Our collective love for clay as a material to render beauty keeps us motivated to continuously create meticulously designed, aesthetically pleasing, and unique forms.

INNOVATION: The objects we create aim to push the boundaries of clay processes and challenge conventional engineering methods of slab construction. Innovation is cultivated within both our technical methods and the development of the company.

CLARITY: The studio performs at a high level of professionalism in the interest of providing clarity – both internally and externally. Internally facing, we prioritize clear expectations, systems, and procedures for our team members. Externally, we deliver exceptional products to our clients and offer an approachable, reliable, and personable experience.

OPTIMISTIC ACCOUNTABILITY: We strive to facilitate an open and honest environment to cultivate a space in which our team can invent, learn, evolve, and grow. We embrace challenges and hold ourselves accountable to seek solutions, build confidence, and hold each other up.

WORKERS’ RIGHTS: BZIPPY is built on feminist principles that uphold deep regard for worker’s rights. The heart of the company is our team of prefabricators, fabricators, kiln & glaze techs, fulfillment associates, and administrators; we prioritize their rights, needs, boundaries, ad labor as the foundation of the works we create.

Position Overview:

Bari Ziperstein Studio is looking for a full-time Studio Fabricator seeking full-time hours, with the skills and abilities to work in a small but growing studio environment. The Studio Fabricator must have a high level of working knowledge of best practices for slab-built ceramics in order to assist with the fabrication of high-quality, large slab-constructed ceramics.

The studio is recruiting an individual with prior art and studio experience at a full-scale and ready-to-go, with leadership capacities and skills. A fabricator that is seeking full-time hours, has the skills and abilities to work in a small but growing studio environment assisting the Creative Director to transform artistic ideas into sold collectible design and fine art objects and is seeking an opportunity to become a key member of a growing business.

Applicants must have at least 4 years of hard slab construction experience – especially focused on large-scale works or comparable. Wheel throwing and coil building skills are not transferable for this studio’s construction methods.

Responsibilities

• Preparing and assembling production ceramics including large-scale planters, vases, and sculpture using slab-building methods.
• Following precise renderings and production instructions.
• Fabricating challenging ceramic sculptural works with precise measurements while accounting for shrinkage rate, etc.
• Reverse engineering large-scale ceramic works from sketch to production, providing cut lists for departments, and working in a collaborative fabrication team setting.
• Innovating building methods and assisting the CEO / Creative Director to conceptualize clay structures.
• Assisting with custom projects and commissions – overseeing precise dimension requirements and production process.
• Problem-solving with clay including while constructing, while drying, and post-firing.
• Working collaboratively within the Fabrication department team and cross-departmentally as needed.

Requirements

• Can demonstrate 4+ years of knowledge of hand-building tools such as various ribs, knives, joining, etc.
• Previous professional studio experience.
• Curiosity and ability to reverse engineer large-scale ceramic works from sketch to production, providing cut lists for departments, and working in a collaborative fabrication team setting.
• Can demonstrate the ability to receive, understand, and apply information in a timely manner within the company training period.
• Ability to write in a clear and concise manner that enables others to read, interpret and understand messages and written documents.
• Are able to sit and stand for long periods of time, utilize hands and arms in a variety of positions with a wide range of grip strength and manual dexterity, and lift and carry up to 30 pounds
• Are able to uphold good interactions with colleagues by maintaining clear personal boundaries and professionalism.
• Have respect, admiration, and pride for the work done in the studio.
• Ability to communicate with others and face potential conflict with empathy and understanding.
• Ability to embody mistakes without blaming others.
• Ability to embrace and provide feedback.

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to push, pull, bend, stoop, squat, turn from front to back, turn from side to side, reach above shoulder level, and lift and carry up to 50 pounds
• Must be able to perform the above physical activities in excess of 50 pounds with the assistance of another person
• Must be able to perform a wide range of physical tasks on a frequent and repetitive basis for extended periods of time while working in a studio environment with cement floors, air conditioning, and heat with a dedicated workspace, computer, and inventory area
• Must be able to drive his/her own vehicle which is in good working condition, have a good driving record, and own the minimum requirements for vehicle insurance in California

How to apply

To be considered: Please submit a resume, cover letter, and portfolio of past ceramic slab-built work.

Candidates selected for an interview will be provided with a more detailed job description. In the event that you would like to receive more specific information about this position prior to submitting your resume, please send us a message. First round of interviews are held virtually, second round of interviews are held on site and include a skills test.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination and negative COVID-10 test is required before start and for on site skills test. The studio is strictly adhering to local guidelines. Masks (KN95) are mandatory at all times, PPE is provided, sanitation and cleaning are closely monitored, and fabrication members are distanced at their own work stations in a well-ventilated studio warehouses.

Please contact the studio with any questions regarding this open position.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: Up to $23.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Supplemental Pay:

• Bonus pay

COVID-19 considerations:
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination and negative COVID-10 test is required before start and for on site skills test. The studio is strictly adhering to local guidelines. Masks (KN95) are mandatory at all times, PPE is provided, sanitation and cleaning are close