clennell on thu 6 jul 06
My favourite plate is at the Burlington Arts Center. It is about 30" wide,
it is warped, cracked, has a cone pack that blew up on it's surface, drips
from the arch of the salt kiln, the foot ring pancaked so that it would not
sit flat and it has this incredibly powerful gestural drawing of a nude.
The plate is by Ken Ferguson, was bought by Aaron Milrad for $7000 many
years ago and donated to the center. I would trade almost every pot I have
to own it. To me it is an incredible piece of art.
Ferguson used scale as well as imagery to take his pieces to a different
place- the pedestal. At Necca in Baltimore I saw some paper thin, anagama
fired vases by Chris Gustin that were probably 3 and 4 feet tall. If I
could make one of those in my life I'd die with a smile on my face. They
were cheap really- 3-5000. To be able to make at that level is what I'm on
about. Few can and we should not envy them the pedestal. they also have to
send that kind of work out because the neighbours already own one.
Hot cider and a cookie is not going to sell a piece like that.
There is need for good pottery galleries. If the home studio is the only
place to buy pots this craft is in trouble. Many really great potters work
will not be seen.
I gotta get off my high horse and leave Dodge for the weekend. Hope I've
challenged you all. Make the best work ya can and if you don't need the
money all the more reason to.
Best,
Tony
Tony and Sheila Clennell
Sour Cherry Pottery
4545 King Street
Beamsville, Ontario
CANADA L0R 1B1
http://www.sourcherrypottery.com
Linda Ferzoco on thu 6 jul 06
When I first started buying ceramics here in
California, the late 70s, early 80s, I bought a couple
of bowls by James Lovera, then at San Jose State. He
made porcelain bowls, fairly large ones, with the
thinnest walls imaginable and I still love them.
Tried that last night at school, pushed the envelope
and the bowl enveloped on itself! Quel surprise!
Maybe tonight.
Anybody know where Lovera is now?
--- clennell wrote:
At Necca in Baltimore I saw
> some paper thin, anagama
> fired vases by Chris Gustin that were probably 3
> and 4 feet tall. If I
> could make one of those in my life I'd die with a
> smile on my face.
David Beumee on sat 8 jul 06
I appreciate your words Tony. It gives me hope for the future of the gallery market, for "gallery pots" as I call them. I love making them, and I'll keep putting them out there, but sales from the studio are my bread and butter.
I'm glad you like Ken's plate. I'd like to see what the exitement is about. Meeting him was one of the worst experiences of my life.
David Beumee
Lafayette, CO
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: clennell
> My favourite plate is at the Burlington Arts Center. It is about 30" wide,
> it is warped, cracked, has a cone pack that blew up on it's surface, drips
> from the arch of the salt kiln, the foot ring pancaked so that it would not
> sit flat and it has this incredibly powerful gestural drawing of a nude.
> The plate is by Ken Ferguson, was bought by Aaron Milrad for $7000 many
> years ago and donated to the center. I would trade almost every pot I have
> to own it. To me it is an incredible piece of art.
> Ferguson used scale as well as imagery to take his pieces to a different
> place- the pedestal. At Necca in Baltimore I saw some paper thin, anagama
> fired vases by Chris Gustin that were probably 3 and 4 feet tall. If I
> could make one of those in my life I'd die with a smile on my face. They
> were cheap really- 3-5000. To be able to make at that level is what I'm on
> about. Few can and we should not envy them the pedestal. they also have to
> send that kind of work out because the neighbours already own one.
> Hot cider and a cookie is not going to sell a piece like that.
> There is need for good pottery galleries. If the home studio is the only
> place to buy pots this craft is in trouble. Many really great potters work
> will not be seen.
> I gotta get off my high horse and leave Dodge for the weekend. Hope I've
> challenged you all. Make the best work ya can and if you don't need the
> money all the more reason to.
> Best,
> Tony
> Tony and Sheila Clennell
> Sour Cherry Pottery
> 4545 King Street
> Beamsville, Ontario
> CANADA L0R 1B1
> http://www.sourcherrypottery.com
>
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