Discoveries

Earlier in the year after I excitedly discovered I could easily take up ceramics again - at the Central Coast Potters' Society - I picked up a book from my bookshelf. Flicking through "I Shock Myself - The Autobiography of Beatrice Wood" I was once again inspired by her incredible life. Here's an excerpt from the dust jacket.
"rebellious, radical and romantic, Beatrice Wood was determined to be an artist. She fled to Paris for several bohemian seasons as a painter and actress, then returned to New York, where she fell into the loving clutches of two Frenchmen: Henri-Pierre Roche´, the author of Jules and Jim, and Marcel Duchamp, the iconoclastic Dadaist. .. in 1933, at the age of forty, she discovered the passion that would change her life: pottery."

Beatrice Wood Photo by Tony Cunha http://www.beatricewood.com/

I have often thought of this amazing woman since I purchased this book in the early 90's. Still potting until her death in 1998 at age 105, her work and life captured my imagination.

On returning to the "Beatrice Wood Centre for the Arts" website for the first time in 10 years, I discovered Angela de Mott who was awarded a residency in Beatrice Wood's studio in 2007. The beautifully graceful forms of her hand built pots grabbed my attention, along with the incredible lustre glazes and results of raku firing. A future trip to Ohio is definitely in my mind!

In her own words, "I combine elements of both Raku and luster firing to achieve a more organic and earthy quality to the surface. It speaks to me of the marvelous nature of the elements". (http://www.angelademott.com/luster.htm)

Large Raku Vessel, Raku-fired earthenware, 6.5 x 15 x 13 " Collection of Alfreda and Sam Maloof Foundation Photograph by Anthony Cunha http://www.angelademott.com/index.html