search  current discussion  categories  people 

peter voulkos - my positive reaction

updated thu 21 feb 02

 

Helen Bates on wed 20 feb 02


> From:
> Elizabeth Hewitt
>
> Subject:
> As a tribute to Peter Voulkos...a request

Elizabeth,

I have seen one massive Voulkos plate at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic
Art in Toronto.
Made in the early 90's and a powerful presence, it dominated its display
case in the museum's entrance lobby.

In explaining why I liked the plate, first, it was the sheer vigour of
the work, and size of it. Second, the tearing and marking of those
massive pieces in some way seemed to come from nature.

Moving beyond these generalities to the specific, namely the plates and
stacks at the page youu put up at
, the greenware plates
and stack #10 are my favourites.

For the greenware plates this is probably because they are still exactly
as Peter made them, their visual effect unaltered as yet by the marks of
the fire.

Stack #10 also retains much of the effect of volume and mass that the
original must have had. Here, the golden and brown marks of the fire
have but enhanced Peter's emphatic rendings, marks, and additions to the
piece.

Of the three stacks pictured, # 10 is a particularly well-balanced
piece, massive and evocative of an extrusion from the bowels of the
earth itself.

Of the plates, I think Plate #4 expresses particularly well the power of
Peter's way of working. It looks as if, once started, he has let his
creative momentum pull him onward, so that the pulling and tearing, the
slapping of slabs and slop, the spattering of slip, express the chaotic
and organic man in the very act of living.

Helen

PS: Thanks for the addition of new Peter Voulkos work to the web. -h
--

=====================================================================================
Helen Bates - mailto:nell@quintenet.com, mailto:nelba@nycny.net
Web - http://www.geocities.com/nelbanell/
My Clayart Posts - http://www.geocities.com/nelbanell/nellposts/
Clayarters' Web Sites - http://amsterlaw.com/clayart.html (B.
Amsterlaw's Site)
=====================================================================================

Marta Matray Gloviczki on wed 20 feb 02


Helen wrote:
>Of the plates, I think Plate #4 expresses particularly well the power of
>Peter's way of working. It looks as if, once started, he has let his
>creative momentum pull him onward, so that the pulling and tearing, the
>slapping of slabs and slop, the spattering of slip, express the chaotic
>and organic man in the very act of living.
>
>Helen

thank you Helen!
that is exactly how i felt, but i could not express it so well.
and yes, number four!!!
marta
in minnesota