For right now: A new Wood-Fired Ceramics exhibit opens on May 2nd (we'll have a peek at it here, but please see further info in our First Friday: You're Invited post), we introduce several new artists and, finally, give mention to the inauguration of our brand new blog feature, HOT SELLERS! Scroll down a post and enjoy an in-depth look at the artistry of Carol Lee Shanks.
But in the meantime, we welcome you to take a visual stroll below and enjoy the offerings of these superlative artists.
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| Somewhere Beyond the Sea. Robin Hominiuk |
A most intriguing character, Somewhere Beyond the Sea is one of approximately
30 wood-fired ceramic and jewelry pieces featured in our upcoming exhibition,
Earth Elements: Robin Hominiuk, that opens on May 2nd.
This particular sculpture is created from porcelain and sits on a stoneware base.
It is of interest that Robin, who is also a jeweler and metalworker, is blending
metal features into her new ceramic sculptural work. This can be seen in many of her
exhibition pieces, which can be viewed here.
A little about this versatile artist:
Currently living in Ridgefield, Washington, Robin was born in Canada and moved
to the United States in 1998. She received her clay education via community
education courses and several terms at Mt. Hood Community College.
She regularly attends workshops to keep a
fresh perspective and learn new techniques.
In 2004 she built her home studio and has never looked back.
In
addition to the beautiful functional pots she produces from her
studio kiln,
she also creates pottery and sculpture for wood firing. These
pots are fired in huge kilns based on
ancient Japanese traditions. The pots
are
fired for 70 plus hours with a committed group of potters and six to eight
cords of wood. Pottery fired in this
intense method is transformed by flame
and ash; the colors and marks cannot be
replicated or produced in any other way.
Robin’s
work has been featured in numerous national and international collections,
and appears in this May's Ceramics Monthly magazine.
In
Robin’s words:
A
lump of clay is a seductive thing - it is the beginning of a journey, an
exploration of possibilities. My clay
work is inspired by many things, from
the practical considerations of the
everyday utilitarian - the plate-cup-bowl…
that you envision and know will give
joy in its function and beauty, to the
natural world that surrounds us, like
the softly rounded water-etched rocks
that are formed by the river near our
home. Inspiration also comes from
sources a little more obscure – a dream from the previous night, or perhaps
from that weird thing that just happened to the piece you are working on!
I
utilize both hand building techniques and the potter’s wheel, often in
combination, to achieve the form I am looking for. I give much thought
to the selection of
clay, glaze, firing method and kiln before picking up
that lump of clay.
The majority of my work is wood fired in kilns based on ancient Japanese and
The majority of my work is wood fired in kilns based on ancient Japanese and
Korean
designs. These are large tunnel shaped kilns – that are fired upwards
of 70
hours, fueled only with wood and the hard work of fellow potters.
Various zones within each kiln yield
individual characteristics, and while I
use my experience to place my pots
where I feel each will receive the best
effect, the outcome is always
unpredictable. In these types of
firings, there
are no guarantees - you surrender your expectations and control
to the kiln.
The unique aesthetic of wood fired pots reflects the ever changing
The unique aesthetic of wood fired pots reflects the ever changing
dynamics of fire
and ash, potters and clay. Your efforts
are rewarded whe
the kiln is cool enough to open. Pots emerge from the kiln,
transformed
beyond preconceived ideas and anticipations. Each piece awaits your
attention and slowly
reveals itself - ash drips, luster,
swirls of the flame path,
etching – all
provide a permanent record of each firing captured on each pot.
Every firing is eagerly awaited, knowing that
just as the kiln transforms my
pots, the experience of the firing, and the
coming together of likeminded souls
working for a common goal also transforms
me.
 |
| Tea Bowl. Reid Schoonover |
From the studios of Reid Schoonover comes yet another extraordinary
wood-fired tea bowl. Here's a little about the artist:
wood-fired tea bowl. Here's a little about the artist:
Reid
Schoonover is a ceramic artist and mixed-media sculptor, living and
working in Wisconsin. He was educated at the University of
Wisconsin (BAE)
and University of Montana (MFA). He has been featured in many exhibitions
throughout the United States,
including in Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Kentucky,
Montana,
Illinois, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Washington
and Washington D.C.
Reid
discusses his work:
The
work I produce is a conscious amalgam of a number of interests I have
and an
attempt to reconcile these interests in a contemporary way while at the
same
time re-enforcing history through art and craft. Also, I try to produce work
that is easy to
use, and live with and yet provides visual stimulation and aesthetic
pleasure
while encouraging a conceptual link to life and times long past.
I am fascinated by most things ancient and by life in ancient times in general
I am fascinated by most things ancient and by life in ancient times in general
in particular the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages of Korea, China, Japan
and Europe.
I also have strong interests in architecture,
design and our natural environment.
I
believe that these interests express themselves best through my mixed-media
work.
The materials I use continue to
speak in a contemporary way about life
and times past through compositional,
visual and tactile aspects such as color,
grain, pattern and texture. I see my work as art of today speaking as
artifact
of tomorrow, referencing historic times through both function and
visual stimulation.
Essentially I see
myself as an object maker with some pieces having a
specific use and others
remaining intentionally mysterious.
I see myself primarily as a ceramic artist and mixed-media sculptor. With clay
I see myself primarily as a ceramic artist and mixed-media sculptor. With clay
I work on the potter’s wheel as
well as hand-build, and find the dichotomy
between these two techniques both
challenging and invigorating. The thrown
work,
somewhat understated in both form and decoration, closely represents my
interests in ancient forms of containment, in the family, in ritual and in
social
structures in general. The purely
hand-built sculptural pieces also reference
historic times, but in a more
subtle and contemporary way. The tools I
use
to work in wood often mirror in many ways, both the wheel throwing and
hand
building with clay. I often work in
series in clay, wood, metal and other
materials, making a number of similar
pieces. No two, though, are ever exactly
alike. This work is often somewhat more detailed, but in very subtle ways.
I believe it is here that the “joining” of my interests is most evident. All ceramic
I believe it is here that the “joining” of my interests is most evident. All ceramic
work
is fired in wood-fueled kilns exclusively. I particularly like the historic
aspects and
surface quality the work exhibits when fired in a kiln fueled by wood
alone. It is here that I give up my ability to exert
complete control of the final
artistic process and allow the wood-fired kiln to
exert its influences on the
transformation of the work. Ultimately, the results are an unconscious
amalgam
of control and freedom from a partnership of artist and kiln.
 |
| Salad Plate, Dinnerware Series #2. Mark Strayer |
These beautiful place settings are available by order from ceramic artist Mark
Strayer.
They are not wood-fired, but they evoke the somewhat random
markings
and colors characteristic of wood-fired pieces, which naturally is one of
the reasons we find them so attractive! These are
quite dark grey
with rust, caramel and turquoise glaze splashes, and will look
wonderful on any table.
Place settings are comprised of a large plate, salad
plate, bowl, and cup and saucer.
Pieces can also be purchased individually. A cup and saucer for a relaxing cup
of tea would be a wonderful gift, we think!
Pieces can also be purchased individually. A cup and saucer for a relaxing cup
of tea would be a wonderful gift, we think!
View these and other pieces from Mark here, in our shop.
 |
| Low Fir Table. Nathan Christopher |
Another fascinating piece of furniture from Seattle artist Nathan Christopher.
This is a piece of live edge old growth fir from the Pacific Northwest which has
been smoothed and minimally finished with oil, then attached to two
black hot rolled steel legs, long and slender. The table hugs the
floor, and would make a wonderful low coffee table or a
Japanese zataku-style dining table.
To view more unique furniture pieces, visit our
online shop here.
To view more unique furniture pieces, visit our
online shop here.
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| Shaman 3. Gerardo Aguayo |
Our newest visual artist, Gerardo Aguayo, brings us work that is notable
for its vivid color and deep symbolism. He works in oil and oil pastels
on paper, but has also explored ink and other mediums, including mosaics.
Gerardo was born in Mexico City. He graduated from the School of Architecture,
University of Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1979, and went on to a career in architecture
that spans from then until the present. He is now residing in Washington State.
During his early studies he also attended drawing and painting courses at
El Jardin del Arte in Guadalajara, Mexico, training that has carried him
to numerous solo and group exhibits in Mexico, Washington and Wisconsin.
He has accepted commissions for portraits
and mosaic art, and his poetry
has
appeared in publications both in Mexico and the United States.
Gerardo describes his approach to his art:
What
I intend in my works is the transformation of literal reality events
into
ones of magical character; deep in uncommon elements and intriguing situations.
My
images are borrowed from experiences of every day life,
and deep in personal and
universal symbols and myths.
Several of Gerardo's pieces will be on display in the Gallery in May,
with more to follow. They will be viewable here.
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| Turquoise and Sterling Silver Ring. Robin Hominiuk |
Once again, we draw attention to the work of Robin Hominiuk. Not only an artist
in clay, she is also an accomplished metalsmith and jewelry artist.
Her upcoming show here at the Gallery, Earth Elements,
will include a good selection of her jewelry work.
This beautiful turquoise ring is currently available in the Gallery
and our online shop. Her newer pieces will become available
after the show opening, which is May 2nd.
Lastly, a glimpse of:
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| Carol Lee Shanks' Wearable Art |
We are delighted to spotlight textile artist Carol Lee Shanks
in our recent new blog feature, Hot Sellers.
We carry her work on a regular basis, and are always
thrilled to note the nuances and slight changes she engineers
into the most familiar, and deceptively simple, garments.
View her work in the Gallery, or in our online shop here.
Please scroll back an article or two this month,
where we go in-depth on her artistry.
~o0o~
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