Artist’s Statement

Throughout my career, I have continued to look back at the long tradition of pottery forms. I continue to look with great interest at the mystery of the unknown symbolic imagery of the Jomon potters, the fluid energetic expressions of the medieval Japanese tea masters, the powerful dramatic urns of the African potters, as well as many other early pottery traditions, each capturing and embodying the essence of their cultural heritage. I have tried with respect and honor to create a dialog with these great pots and potters from the past and with my own voice, trying to be part of the continuous conversation and innovation of pottery forms.

In a conversation with Dan Rhodes, he explained the ancient and medieval Japanese masters believed that pottery should reflect all the forces in their forming and then submit them to the kiln with the willingness to accept whatever effects the firing bestowed on them. My art career started as a painter in the later 1950’s and early 1960’s. This concept, expressed by Dan, connected to my love of Abstract Expressionism and the great painters of the twentieth century. Along with the great historical pottery, the fluid and explosive energy of Joan Mitchell, the De Koonings, Franz Kline, and the powerful and bold imagery of Robert Motherwell have also been a continuous source of inspiration.