Contemporary Sake Ware

It is with great pleasure to announce that I have been invited by ceramicist/curator Jeff Shapiro to exhibit in "SAKE WARE: Contemporary Sake Vessels by Japanese and Western Artists" at Lacoste Gallery (Concord, MA) from April 9th through May 7th, 2016. This exhibition will showcase sake cups and sake servers from makers in Japan, United Kingdom, and the United States.

"This exhibition highlights contemporary sake ware from some of the most renown Japanese and western ceramists. The show includes a wide range of form and firings; from wood fired to highly decorated surfaces, as well as innovative approaches to design. The Japanese aesthetic of beauty in nature is interpreted by the artists in their own way. The exhibition shows the breadth of artistic creation through the vessel form."
- Jeff Shapiro, exhibition organizer

http://www.lacostegallery.com/dynamic/exhibit_artist.asp?ExhibitID=203

Last Call

The following two wood fired pieces were recently selected for inclusion in "Last Call", an exhibition which is "a national survey of handmade ceramics pertaining to the storage, presentation, service, and consumption of fine libations". Juror Matt Schiemann chose 160 pieces, from over 500 works submitted, to be showcased.
This show will be held at Companion Gallery, 3638 E. Mitchell Street, Humbolt, Tennessee, from March 4th - April 1st, 2016. 

Sake Cup

Sake Flask

International Cup 2016

These two cups were recently selected for exhibition in Clay Studio of Missoula's "International Cup 2016". Juror Josh DeWeese selected 45 works by 35 artists from over 200 entries submitted by 107 artists. The exhibition dates are February 5th - 26th, 2016, with an opening reception on Friday, February 5th, from 5:30 - 9 pm. The Clay Studio of Missoula is located at 1106 Hawthorne Street, Missoula, MT. Phone: (466) 543-0509. This show can be viewed online by clicking: HERE

Sake Cup

Sake Cup

November's Anagama Firing

Front stack, post firing

After sorting through my pieces from the Gustin anagama firing, these are the ones that meet my aesthetic criteria for what I am seeking...

Chawan (Tea Bowl)

Chawan (Tea Bowl)

Chawan (Tea Bowl

Chawan (Tea Bowl)

Bud Vase

Hashioko (Chopstick Rest)

Hashioko (Chopstick Rest)

Hashioko (Chopstick Rest)

Hashioko (Chopstick Rest)

Hashioko (Chopstick Rest)

Tokkuri (Sake Flask)

Yunomi

Yunomi

Yunomi

Yunomi

Yunomi

Yunomi

Guinomi

Guinomi

Guinomi

Guinomi

Guinomi

Guinomi

Salt Glaze

I have always liked salt glazed pottery. While living in the Seagrove area of North Carolina, I had the opportunity to do quite a bit of it. Recently I have wanted to investigate its use on my current forms. Fortunately, Eric Smith (E.M. Smith Pottery) lives a couple of towns to the west of me, where he maintains his studio, producing wood fired salt glaze ware. Eric was kind enough to let me put a test pieces in his firing a couple of weeks ago, which is pictured below. This is made from my regular porcelaineous stoneware clay body, with a slip coating of Erect, NC clay, a wild clay I obtained many years ago from Al McCanless of Dover Pottery. This piece doesn't demonstrate the typical "orange peel" effect of salt due to its high silica content, which tends to lap up the salt. The wood ash further fluxes it all, allowing for the development of wonderful green glass.

Guinomi (Sake Cup)

Anagama Firing

This past weekend (November 5th - 8th), the anagama and adjoining kilns at Gustin Ceramics were loaded. Firing commenced yesterday, Monday, November 9th, and will finish up on Sunday, the 15th. Unloading is scheduled for Saturday, November 28th.

Form and Function

This wood fired (anagama firebox) sake cup was recently selected for inclusion in the "8th Annual Cup Show: Form and Function", being held in Gulf Coast State College's Amelia Gallery, Panama City, FL. This exhibition runs November 20th - December 17th, 2015.

Firebox Guinomi