Jim Tabor on mon 18 mar 02
Vince-
The Natzlers (Otto & Gertrude) produced many crater effects from multiple firings
in an electric kiln with reduction materials pitched in during additional
refirings. Look for a video about them and it shows them going through the
process.
They came to US, I believe in the '40's and established a home studio with
Gertrude throwing and Otto developing glazes. They were well established potters
in the art world in the '50's. Their collaboration continued until Gertrude died
('70's) and Otto continued with slab constructions. I have seen their work in
several museum collections and at Neiman Marcus in Dallas and Gumps in San
Francisco.
Bowls were a common format for their Art. Not as a functional item, but as a pure
visual experience. Some people would probably have the same reaction to a Natzler
crater bowl as they would have to Openheim's fur covered cup, saucer, spoon. They
were artists, potters, and creative dabblers.
Garth Clark's book, "American Ceramics, 1876 to the present" mentions an article
in the July 1964 issue of Craft Horizons titled: "The Natzler Glazes". Pilgrim
Bottle with crater glaze ('49 - '50) on page 92 and Elliptical Bowl ('58) on page
98.
I wish we met at NCECA and hope to see you there next year.
Jim Tabor
http://home.earthlink.net/~taborj/index.html
vince pitelka wrote:
> >Okay, now I'm really going to put my foot in it. I have been looking
> >at a lot of well known potter's work (web viewing) and wondering
> >what it feels like to pick up these pieces. You know, fondle them.
> >With the craters, pin holes, crazing, beading etc, I can't imagine
> >it would be a pleasurable experience. Is pottery becoming a look but
> >don't touch form, or have these people manages to create the look of
> >these glaze flaws but not the sharp edges?
>
> Ann -
> I am not aware of any craters on the surface of the work of well-known
> potters unless you are referring to the experimental glazes of George Ohr,
> or the work of some ceramic sculptors. The other things you refer to are
> not the least bit problematic, and in fact constitute interesting texture.
> There is little hope of fully appreciating those surfaces without handling
> them, but I hope it does not come across as at all patronizing to say that
> when you have fondled enough ceramic surfaces, you will develop an intuitive
> reaction to the visual representation of texture which you see in
> photographs, and that reaction will really invite you to handle the work.
> Craters, breaks, and other sharp edges can be hostile and alienating, but
> beading? Crazing? Pin holes? How could any of those possibly be
> unpleasant to touch? Exploring the surface of an interesting and varied
> ceramic form is a supreme pleasure.
> Best wishes -
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Crafts
> Tennessee Technological University
> 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
> Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
> 615/597-5376
> Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
> 615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
> http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
>
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