Impression

 

My pottery is a reflection of self; a form easily influenced by the people and environment it is surrounded by.  I grew up with the bayou landscape of South Louisiana, outlined with cypress trees, and family front yards proud with magnolia trees.  To incorporate these local trees in my work, I developed glazes using the ash produced from burning their branches.  Ash causes glazes to flow more and creates unique surfaces and dripping patterns.  The magnolia glazes are characterized by subtle blushing tones in white, while the cypress can be distinguished by its eerie flow and rusty orange accents.  The type of glazes I am using are inspired by Shoji Hamada and Bernard Leach.

The processes involved with making my work are as important to me as the final pieces. Similar to work by Ken Ferguson, I leave throwing rings and marks in the pieces to allow the user to feel where my hands have pressed, like a potter’s handshake.  The shape of the vessels are elegant and exaggerate volume while some forms are altered to mimic things of nature.  Early work from Peter Volkous and Ferguson inspire me to fire my work in the soda and wood kilns.  I celebrate naturally occurring marks and colors by intentionally leaving sections of each piece unglazed.

The mugs are displayed on iron hooks cast from hand built clay patterns.  The hooks suggest the gesture of a hand reaching out, offering the viewer a mug and encouraging interaction.  The wall mounts for my plates and platters have been fabricated from repurposed steel and display the ceramic pieces in a way it would not be seen when it is in use, holding objects or food.

As I develop a relationship with my work, I hope to create a relationship with the viewer through each piece.  I put a part of myself in my pottery to tell a story while also encouraging people to make their own stories, gathered around a platter of food surrounded by people or a small group of friends sharing a pot of tea.  My work has made an impression on me just as I try to make an impression through it.

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Ashley Tabor
December 2017