Photo was clipped from the Heard Museum (Arizona) website.

Click on the vessel, after you have navigated from the Sonoron Desert area, a video will start and describe the origins and construction about this beautiful, indigenous vessel done by Mary Juan. It looks disarmingly simple to make, but, in fact, its body thinness and handle arch had very skillful artisan hands in crafting.

http://heardeducation.org/home/

More Great Works In Ceramics

Products on this site have varied and innovative use of ceramics. Beautifully, simple things one can lust for. Watch the "Edith on Martha Stewart Video" and you will get a picture of Heath Ceramics' history and mission.

http://www.heathceramics.com/go/heath/

Heath Ceramics is chock full of lovely things that we just can't get enough of. Heath is one of the few remaining mid-century American potteries still in existence today, and they remain a small, local manufacturer employing 40 skilled craftsman who work out of their Sausalito, CA factory.

Final Project - Ceramics

In the Korean Vessel Gallery at Academy of Arts there are stoneware pots from the 5th - 6th century that are simple, yet finely constructed, with clean ridges and thin walls. With all the tools and access to techniques that students have, it seemed a reasonable challenge to replicate.

The above pot looks nothing like the vessel on display at the Academy, except for the 3 lugs. My replica is thick walled; the top does not have the graceful expanse in the base, then narrowing and then flare with two rims leading to a final double narrowing. I tried to make the moves in clay, but lacked the ability that was prominent many centuries ago. Mine turned out to look more like a Hawaiian gourd, which is another historical vessel. This class has altered my awareness and appreciation of working with clay.

Glazing. This is the tour de force of potting; it's the frosting on the cake, and the step that takes the most study and experimentation in the process. Glazes, their mixture and application can impart very different results that requires planning through applications that look nothing like the final patina, as photos show.

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester - RAKU

ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Class coil and wheel lessons.

ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Talk at Art Academy Theater by Hawaii Artists juror Helen Drutt, husband and Brad Taylor. Ms. Drutt talked about her history and affilitation with many artists and her owning of Helen Drutt Gallery in Philadephia. She is old enough to know many of the famous ceramicists that are on our list of notables.

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Up popped another internet site with specialized ceramic products, aimed at a certain niche: people with money.

http://shop.ochrestore.com/products/night-light-holders

This one, sells pieces by Daniel Smith, a U.K. artist, who builds $145 hand-thrown dog dishes, but also produces a wide range of popular, hand-thrown tableware.

Again, spare and simple seems to be what's appealing to the modern buyer.

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

http://upintheairsomewhere.com/ceramics/index.html

I like the works coming from this site. They are simple-elegant. Susan Dwyer is a young, Chicago based artist, who builds her pieces individually without molds, making each unique.

ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Artist HENRY VARNUM POOR - In '40's sculptors looed for different "sculptural unity", using totally disparate and discordant elements (p. 87), grown from early modern collage, constructivisim and suprematism from Europe and Russia, early '20's. World was heading into the 2nd world conflict that would not tolerate the status quo of supercilious ceramic humor.

Moved from painting to applied arts believing "....natural development of modern art lies in a closer application to things more related to everyday usage." (p. 69). Also felt he could receive greater income than from painting. Made a makeshift pottery studio and crafted limited production, unique pieces to increase prices.

Founded with 14 others, American Designers Gallery, short-lived due to stock market crash.

"One of the most significant ceramists of period between two wars." (p. 70) - American Ceramics 1876 to Present, Clark 1987

"Hernal" 1965 Glazed earthenware with colored epoxy (p. 251)

"Call Girl" 1967, glazed earthenware and sculpmetal

Artist ROBERT ARNESON - At U.C. Davis when art department established with no academic hierarchy in late 60's early 70's. "Broke completely with ceramists' role as a producer of tasteful, overly crafted bric-a-brac for middle class sideboards and mantlepieces." (p.122)

"It's a groove to stick your finger down your throat and see what comes up; this is funk." (p. 119). West Coast Funk roots in Dada and Surrealism. "Funk John" self-proclaimed "first mature work" was an exhibition lasting one day. - American Ceramics, 1876 to Present, Clark 1987

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Artist RICHARD SHAW - Late 60's high period. Received MFA from U.C. - Davis. 1970 Nat'l Endowment Arts Fellowship recipient. In '73 received a prospect grant to study 4-color silkscreening of ceramic decals.

His work primarily iconographic and decorative platters. In '81 began figurative work experimentation, leading to more sculptured and less decorative works. - (p. 297-8) American Artists 1876 to Present, Clark 1987.

ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Saxe, Adrian, - vintage mid-60's - long Asso. Prof of Art at U. of California, L.A. Early on to vessel and porcelain qualities, In research, drawn to antelope motif, thereafter used in large lidded vessels in the 70's.

As he worked thru the 80's, "....a tough, witty sense of inquiry began to appear." Some call him "modern-day Fabergé."

The merging of beauty and tension mates works of provocative pieces, "... a sense of poised and inexhaustible complexity." -(p. 297) Peter Schjeldahl, 1987, Kansas Exhibition. "American Ceramics 1876 to Present", Clark 1987.

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Elisabeth von Krogh

Norway

Earthenware, engobes

My attraction - Look at those colours! Vessels are beautifully designed in my eye.

New Word "Engobes" Engobes can be defined as liquid clay slips of varying compositions which are applied to the surface of a clay object, e.g. a pot. The purpose of the engobe can be as different as the varied forms it comes in: to give color to a piece; to improve the surface texture; to provide a ground to do further decoration on; to add textures. - Ceramics Today on-line

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Alexander Dadoran

Russia

"White Nude"

Stoneware

My comment - Simple, yet complex piece. It is so attractive: colour, line, cuts.

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Elizabeth Lansch, Switzerland

Large earthenware, glazes in Hotel Widder, Zurich.

I am attracted to the shape and how it fits so well into the space. The shade of blue is very pleasing.

- Peterson, Susan "Contemporary Ceramics"

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Margaret Dodd - Australian Ceramicist.

"Double Illusion - Looks like something, but made of something else."

"Abstract expressionism is a violent artist's response to a public lack of concern."

"Zen potter...He's liberated by tradition, but I'm liberated from it."

Photos of Dodd's work are superimposed on life-size backgrounds.

18" brick van (lf)

17" FJ Holden, f20" Vangard, 12" Mini (rt pg)

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Peter Rushforth - Australian Potter.

"Pioneers...in this century have been essentially teachers...they've lectured and written books, and expressed forcibly their ideas of creative work in a machine-dominated society."

"If you haven't technique then very often your ideas are stillborn."

"....advice often given to Japanese craftsmen: develop an infallible technique, then leave yourself open to inspiration."

- "Nine Artist Potters" Littlemore pp. 42, 43

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Suzanne Wolfe - Faculty Art Exhibition, on-going at Art Bldg. 3 plexi shelf displays of colourful and graphically diverse cups. Eye candy; all complex and compelling. Type on the inside, amazing!

"The dramatically different uses of clay by Suzanne Wolfe and new faculty member Brad Taylor speak to the broad range of this wonderfully malleable material. Wolfe’s series of decal-adorned forms speaks to both the vessel tradition and cultures of consumption, while Taylor’s massive sculpture of porcelain subverts any presumption of delicacy or fragility. Rick Mills’ shallow vessel form of cast glass shares much the same robust sensibility." - Marcia Morse for Honolulu Weekly.

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Ceramic Artist List for Sketchbook

Choose 40-to 50 of the artists listed below and do at least one page in your sketchbook on each artist. You may also add some of Your own choosing if You find someone whose work you are interested in. You will need to do 3 or 4 per week consistently throughout the semester to make this effective. Some of the artists listed work in many media. For this assignment focus on their ceramic works.

Robert Arneson Tony Cragg Richard Deacon Stephen DeStaebler Shoji Hamada Haniwa (Historical Japan)

Mingqui (Historical China) Richard Long John Mason Ken Price Peter Voulkous Pablo Picasso Bernard Leach

Beatrice Wood Anthony Caro Albert Pfarr Jun Kaneko Maria Martinez Rudy Autio Nino Caruso Viola Frey

Leopold Foulem Andrea Gill Wayne Higby Ryoji Koie Marilyn Levine Janet Mansfield David Shaner Adrian Saxe

Richard Shaw Akio Takamori Xavier Toubes Patti Warashina Kurt Weiser Betty Woodman Adelaide Robineau

Anne Currier Tony Hepburn George Ohr Lisa Orr Josh DeWeese Michael Sherrill

Ann Agee John Gill Walter McConnell Neil Forest Grayson Perry Eva Zeisel Josiah Wedgwood Tony Marsh John Rolloff

Edmund Dewald Hunderwasser Antonio Gaudi Andy Goldsworthy Judy Chicago Gwen Heeney Michael Lucero Sebastian Blackie

Charles Krafft Piet Stockmans Toshiko Takaezu Ettore Sottsass Lee, In Chin Han, Gil Hong Yuh, Sun Koo Shin, Sang Ho

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Ass. 5 - Build a set of 6 cups w/tray(s). The idea, again, is to build from a unified design, this time using slab building. We have been shown how to build from slabs, kneading a hunk of clay to kinda' flat, and then throwing it onto the smooth table, tip first and lowering the last part of it, pulling it long. Turn it 90° and throw again, and again to get it into a sort of wide square shape, then follow with a rolling pin to get ~1/4" to 1/16" even thickness in the slab. Roll newsprint around a circular container, like a can. Mark and cut paper into a template that can be used to cut from the slab. Used the cylindrical container to cut a base and attach with "slip" (liquid clay).

Ceramics Class - U.H. Manoa, Fall '09 Semester

Budget cuts caused some anxiety among University of Hawaii SEED (senior) auditors trying for admission into fall classes. I found room in Brad Taylor's Ceramics class; he was good enough offer me a stool.

After syllabus and other forms filled out and explained, we were instructed to make coil lines. Duh! Big deal, you comment. But, it takes practice, I'll alert you, to make coils of clay uniform in thickness as you make them longer.

There are different techniques, but I learned the best tip was: no matter how frustrated you are by your lack of skill, you'd better be Zen about hand rolling coils, because a light touch is necessary for uniformity. Students are to learn that coils are used to build and shore up pot walls, to fill in low spots on objects, and to make additions to existing objects.

Ass. 1 - Build a 6" coil vessel (some students don't know "vessel"). My pottery is crude; I don't try to disguise the coils, being as I've got a my hands full with scoring and adding slip between coils, blending on the inside to keep the rim from collapsing, all while retaining some kind of shape to the finished product. I feel remedial.

Ass. 2 - Build a 12" coil vessel. WHAT??! More torture.

In my mandated sketch book I've a swift pencil drawing that is nothing like the finished product. I go in on other days to try and finish the "vase," measuring frequently, "Only 7 inches????" Round start turned to a radiused-corner square, slightly flared at 6" (showing I'm moving beyond novice :) and tapering to about a 1 1/2" opening at the top.

I have gained more appreciation for this art---there's much more to working with clay than ever conceptualized. Det. Jill suggests I make ashtrays and maybe handprints.

Judge not nor sneer at these small beginnings! I am beginning to realize I must get beyond the wanting-to-smash-the-object-thru-various-stages temperament if I'm going to get beyond ashtrays and handprints.

Ass. 3 - Pinch 4 small bowls, a set of 'um. Nothing large—like green tea cups or something like that. My mind goes blank, while paying students have started great little cups of various shapes and thicknesses. They've figured that more clay on walls makes building faster. I'm too cheap to build thick walls; I don't want to haul in another 25# lump of clay.

I fashion crude ‘awa bowls, the kind one can't get zoned with, 'cause they will hold very little liquid. These will be ceremonial bowls, I envision, and shape them kinda' like coconut shell bowls, from which ‘awa is commonly consumed. I puka'd one of them trying to carve my initials in the bottom after the fact.

Pinching is another exasperating technique: when you build a 3-dimensional object, pushing/pulling one side throws another side off, so you're always making minor adjustments. Teacher Brad shows us how to pinch up, because that's the direction we want to go. One has to learn to control pinching to build in the desired direction.

Ass. 4 - Pinch a 6x6x6 cube. AAAHhhhggrrrrhhh!!!! Zen pottery setback. Teacher demonstrates how to punch out a base, beyond the 6" marks and fold up and in at the corners, and thereafter attach your punched out, folded over clay, using the pinch up and out method. There are tricks: utilize squares, pieces of wood, scrapers, etc. to keep this six sided box in square. Teacher Brad notices I am veering off square as the box goes up: I had sort of a trapezoid going. Dismay! Grrrrr! Lots of framing with flat pieces of wood, scraping and pinching in later, I have the semblance of a cube. Seems hours worked to produce this crude box. Instructor Brad assures students practice cuts construction time significantly.