“An original doesn’t live
up to our expectations, it changes them.” This statement made by Glenn Close
to describe Barbara Streisand at the 2008 Kennedy Center Tribute to her,
embodies the value of originality in all things, from life forms to those we
create.
MISSION
My mission is to create
original ceramic arts for the 21st century. WTG Ceramic Arts is
how I propose to promote one-of-a-kind and one-in-a-million edition (hence
320 units total) ceramic creations that appeal to a new generation of
art enthusiasts and collectors with a view toward future appreciation in
value. As noted by Terry Kovel, an authority on antiques and collectibles,
“Collectors today pay high prices for many pieces of early Rookwood. The
best of the art pottery sells for tens of thousands of dollars; production
pieces sell for much less.” In other words, for discerning collectors,
acquisitions of singular ceramic art may provide an added bonus.
RATIONALE
Studio ceramists have
today replaced factory-style art potteries and have stretched the clay
medium to new levels of expression, blurring the lines between craft and
fine arts. I believe that clay has much future potential; just as everything
old is new again. No art form has survived the ravages of time as broadly as
that of ceramics. From early Egyptian to pre-Columbian pottery and images,
both utilitarian vessels and art objects attest to the importance of clay as
a durable statement of cultural identity and human imagination.
Although I am foremost a
sculptor and have worked in a variety of media, clay has become my medium of
choice. In this age of toxic, energy-consuming, synthetic materials, clay is
safe, natural, environmentally sensitive, affordable and durable; perfectly
aligned with the current economic imperative. While dismissed by some art
critics and ‘culturati,’ I believe that ceramic arts have as much legitimacy
in the world of fine arts as pickled sharks or illustrations of Campbell
soup cans.
As the last Rookwood
artist (pre-1967), my objective is to have WTG Ceramic Arts serve as a
bridge between conventional U.S. art pottery and studio potters. The
following pieces—PISCES and FASCINATION—serve as an introduction to this
endeavor. Each piece is personally created and signed with the artist’s mark
and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. |
