The audio file for this article was produced by the Ceramic Arts Network staff and not read by the author.
Ceramics Monthly: What inspires your work in clay?
Alex Olson: My artwork is driven by my curiosity about the rhythms of the natural world and the intersections of landscape and home. Motion in the landscape (e.g. patterns of light and shadow, shifting seasons) fuels my desire to create
and inspire the organic shapes in my pottery. I’m drawn to clay’s malleability and versatility as a material, and I craft functional forms that people can integrate into their daily routines and rituals. More broadly, while making my work
I consider how experiences in nature stay with us in transformative ways—and how we hold on to those experiences by bringing elements of the natural world into our homes.
CM: What techniques do you use to make your work and why?
AO: I make my pottery from a variety of porcelain and stoneware clays. Each piece is thrown by hand, carved, and textured using found objects such as shells and stones. In my work, I explore concepts of mark making and imprinting through
both process and form: found objects from the landscape make physical marks in the clay, leaving imprints of place on my pottery. The compositions of curving edges and textures on my pots offer a rich sensory experience and tactile feeling in the
hands that encourages mindfulness. Wood-firing my pots adds complexity to their surfaces, creating gradients of color and texture that mimic patterns in nature; I also use this effect to reference the cycles and transitions of the natural world. In
addition to the results one can achieve through wood firing, I’m also drawn to how immersive and collaborative a process it is—how it requires a great amount of presence, time, understanding of materials, and teamwork to strategically
load and fire a kiln.
CM: What role do you think makers play within today’s culture? How do you think you contribute?
AO: I believe makers help us connect more deeply and intentionally with the world we inhabit. Living with and using beautiful, thoughtfully crafted objects reminds us to be present and helps ground us during difficult times. Close your
eyes and recall the feeling of finding a special rock, iridescent feather, or delicate wildflower . . . that wonder and curiosity you feel when noticing the tiniest detail or appreciating an intricate texture is what I’m hoping to spark with
my pottery. I carry this intention while documenting my process and finished pots: the images and videos I create are often educational and hopefully inspire creativity and appreciation for craft in others. As I continue in my practice, I’m
also discovering my love for teaching and helping others explore their ideas through clay.
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The audio file for this article was produced by the Ceramic Arts Network staff and not read by the author.
Ceramics Monthly: What inspires your work in clay?
Alex Olson: My artwork is driven by my curiosity about the rhythms of the natural world and the intersections of landscape and home. Motion in the landscape (e.g. patterns of light and shadow, shifting seasons) fuels my desire to create and inspire the organic shapes in my pottery. I’m drawn to clay’s malleability and versatility as a material, and I craft functional forms that people can integrate into their daily routines and rituals. More broadly, while making my work I consider how experiences in nature stay with us in transformative ways—and how we hold on to those experiences by bringing elements of the natural world into our homes.
CM: What techniques do you use to make your work and why?
AO: I make my pottery from a variety of porcelain and stoneware clays. Each piece is thrown by hand, carved, and textured using found objects such as shells and stones. In my work, I explore concepts of mark making and imprinting through both process and form: found objects from the landscape make physical marks in the clay, leaving imprints of place on my pottery. The compositions of curving edges and textures on my pots offer a rich sensory experience and tactile feeling in the hands that encourages mindfulness. Wood-firing my pots adds complexity to their surfaces, creating gradients of color and texture that mimic patterns in nature; I also use this effect to reference the cycles and transitions of the natural world. In addition to the results one can achieve through wood firing, I’m also drawn to how immersive and collaborative a process it is—how it requires a great amount of presence, time, understanding of materials, and teamwork to strategically load and fire a kiln.
CM: What role do you think makers play within today’s culture? How do you think you contribute?
AO: I believe makers help us connect more deeply and intentionally with the world we inhabit. Living with and using beautiful, thoughtfully crafted objects reminds us to be present and helps ground us during difficult times. Close your eyes and recall the feeling of finding a special rock, iridescent feather, or delicate wildflower . . . that wonder and curiosity you feel when noticing the tiniest detail or appreciating an intricate texture is what I’m hoping to spark with my pottery. I carry this intention while documenting my process and finished pots: the images and videos I create are often educational and hopefully inspire creativity and appreciation for craft in others. As I continue in my practice, I’m also discovering my love for teaching and helping others explore their ideas through clay.
Learn more at www.alexolsonarts.com.
Unfamiliar with any terms in this article? Browse our glossary of pottery terms!
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