Jeff Shapiro

Tea Bowl and Tea Cup

Perspective, Context, and Relativity

I ‘look’ with the intent of perceiving the artistic elements of what I am viewing rather than the intellectual dissection of information. To that end, I want to be moved and inspired, and respond to the potential of experiences I encounter.

I approach the process of making as a creative process giving myself the freedom to improvise, or run with an idea and see where it takes me, to keep the work alive and evolving. If I do not approach my work in this way, then the work stagnates and will precipitate the beginning of the end, which leads to a slow death.

I am interested in making my own work more fluid. This may be the result of softer clay, or more spontaneous forming techniques: less attention spent on technical perfection and more time spent on understanding the 'wholistic' approach to concept, material and process.

In the wood fire genre, the romanticism of the firing effects often dictates or overshadows the other aspects of the work. But actually, the material and forming process, as well as surface color and texture must be compatible. The firing alone cannot make up for weaknesses that may exist in either the clay character or forming process.

I respond to the beauty that exists in the imperfections of Nature; a sense that perfection as we know it does not necessarily equate with beauty, that in actuality, beauty exists. It is for us to behold, discover and expand our vision to appreciate a beauty that exists outside of a predetermined western perception.

A torn leaf, a twisted branch, a crack in a wall, it is all about perspective and perception.

When related directly to ceramics, I think of these terms as dimensions or layers. Even cracks in clay can be a dimension of beauty depending on how they relate to the other aspects and qualities of the piece in question.


For More Work: Jeff Shapiro and Contemporary American Ceramics

AKAR

Shiho Kanzaki

Shigaraki Tea bowls

Shiho Kanzaki's Works.

Shigaraki Ware.

All of my work is made by coil building.
In the end, I throw it from under to uper only onece at
one breath.
It is fired in an anagama kiln for over ten days which
produces a natural ash deposits.
Shigaraki ware is that it's fired on the shelve in the
chamber room.

Iga Ware

My work is made by coil building. In the end, I throw it
from under to uper only onece at one breath.
It is fired in an anagama kiln for over ten days which
produces a natural ash deposits.
The difference between Iga ware and Shigaraki ware is
that Shigaraki ware is fired in the chamber room, and
Iga ware is fired in the fire box.
The placement of the pieces in the kiln is very important
for the deposit of the ash.
The surrounding pieces create an environment for the
formation of a landscape of running glazes down the front
of the work.

For More work: Shiho Kanzaki

Chuck Hindes

Tea Bowl with Shino Glaze

ARTIST STATEMENT
The Japanese aesthetic, with reference to the tea ceremony and its use of unglazed ware, has been my main inspiration. The issue of gesture, movement, or animation has been important to my work for years. The plastic and gestural qualities of clay should be emphasized, not dulled or subdued with an opaque or transparent skin. For my work, the movement of the form is heightened with the orchestration of natural color created by wood firing.
I feel wood firing has enhanced my work by providing a palette of colors and surface textures that strengthen my forms visually, rather than cover them with a superficial skin. Wood firing draws the inherent colors in the clay to the surface where they form patterns. The intense interaction of fire and clay permanently etches the color into the pot. The resulting patterns of color and textures create a lasting visual record of the wood firing.

For More Work: The Art Spirt Gallery

James Coquia: Guinomi

James Coquia: Guinomi
Originally uploaded by ajdonald17

Paul A. McCoy: Bastard Shino Tea

Paul A. McCoy: Bastard Shino Tea
Originally uploaded by ajdonald17

James Coquia: Nezumi Shino Guinomi

James Coquia: Nezumi Shino Guinomi
Originally uploaded by ajdonald17

shino squared tea bowls

shino squared tea bowls
Originally uploaded by nesting.emily