From the Earth....
By beccajoIf you live in an area that's been populated for hundreds of years, you can't dig a hole in the ground without pulling up a pottery shard. It's a little more complicated than cooked mud, but really, it's not.
I grew up in a family that celebrated pottery, my mom and her bridesmaid/neighbor/my godmother taught ceramics to high schoolers, and my brother got a potter's wheel for his birthday when he was in high school.
Near my house was the studio and gallery for Warren MacKenzie, and I learned to appreciate his beautiful, simple, and totally functional work. I have a few pieces that may or may not be his....he stopped signing his work in the 1970's.....but there is a HUGE vessel that he threw in my godmother's art class that will come to me once my mom has no need for it anymore.
Here are some of my new favorites-ceramicists who combine the sublime and the simple.
I've talked about Jonathan Adler's work before-I love the 70's styling and updates for today.
This "Bantam" vase and the other ones in the grouping are beyond delicious. Be sure to read about the unique techniques he uses to get those funky surfaces.
Sophie Cook's pottery is all over the pages of Tricia Guild's books, (Designer's Guild is apparently one of her stockists) and that's where I first fell in love with the thin necks and bulbous bodies that her work exhibits.
Thankfully, she does have some stockists in the US.
Sara Paloma's work has the same spindly quality that I am loving. You may have seen her work in 'ReadyMade' mag a few months back. And these stripey vessels are so very Alice in Wonderland.
Lastly, one of my fellow CAL residents, Kevin Caufield. creates amazing functional and non-functional pieces right in the basement of my apartment building. He uses recylced glass in some pieces to create a crackled pool at the center of a dreamy platter. I'm saving up to buy a copper-enhanced flower centerpiece. I can't find any on his website, but trust me, they're amazing.
And a bonus...if you live in the Twin Cities area, you should check out the Upper St. Croix pottery tour this weekend!
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Member since: 11/08/06
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I'm obsessed with making the world a prettier place. I make my living as a production...
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