Galleries

Orient_express

“Orient Express”
51.5 cm tall and 48 cm long
Slip cast parts, assembled collage with Morgan Glaze, which has on glaze sgraffito as well as diamond wheel sgraffito.

I have been making clay objects since 1966. Much of the forty-plus years have been devoted to objects that bring beauty into a home, and that function with flowers or with food. Many call me a traditional potter. It is true.

Florentine_Express_250

“Florintine Express”
Egyptian boat for a dozen roses
47 cm long and 25.5 cm high
Slip cast parts, assembled with celadon glaze on inside, and Morgan glaze on outside

Fresh Express

“Fresh Express”
48 cm long 42 cm high
Slip cast parts, assembled collage with Morgan glaze that has on glaze sgraffito as well as diamond wheel sgraffito.

I went to art school in 1964 to become a painter. On the way to painting I was lured into ceramics, and willingly went along. I kept painting, and since 1984 have mostly used junk food as my subject matter. There is no shortage of still life. The local “Golden Mile” of fast food chains keeps getting longer. Corporate food has succeeded in changing our values, taste, and our size.

You can imagine my intrigue, when I went shopping for crabmeat in our local A&P grocery store in Napanee, and found out that all the crabmeat in their store came from China! This was not the only gem I found. The lady behind the counter pointed out that Captain High liner brand from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, is really fish from China that is just packed in Canada.

Ghetto Express

"Ghetto Express"
38 cm long and 12.5 cm wide
Row boat for two sweetheart roses and one candle.
Slip cast parts, then assembled with celadon glazes.

Princess_celon

“Princess Celon”
53 cm long 27.5 cm high
Slip cast parts, assembled collage with Morgan glaze above deck and Marine Wudi below. On glaze sgraffito followed by diamond wheel sgraffito in the Morgan glazed teapot

So I went looking for more of the same, and found it everywhere. Made in China is on a lot of “stuff” that could and should be made at home. There is also a lot that should not be made or sold anywhere. Thoughts of what to do arose: what can one Canadian artist do to retaliate against corporate greed and stupidity? And what else will they import when we are not watching?

I build boats for flowers, so why not expand the fleet to “Made in China”. I hope you enjoy the fleet. In 2008 look for the “Maiden …..” ships to arrive at my galleries.

For those that want their boats to carry flowers beautifully, and their bowls to function well in their hands, don’t worry. There will always be room for the beautiful object on my table…always.

Wings

“Wings”
43cm long and 31cm high
Slip cast parts, assembled collage with Morgan glaze above decks and Marine Wudi below to the celadon shadow. On glaze sgraffito followed by diamond wheel sgraffito in the Morgan glaze.

38cm long and 12 ½ wide
Row boat for two sweetheart roses and one candle.
Slip cast parts, then assembled with celadon glazes.