Ceramic objects : containers and handpieces
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Marianne Bell Gurley (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Gilbert Carpenter
Abstract: My thesis consists of ceramic objects made of stoneware and porcelain. I have been working with clay for three years and find myself becoming both more comfortable with and more excited by the possibilities of the material. In making clay objects, whether wheelthrown or handbuilt, there must be concern for both form and surface. As I work, the form may become the most important aspect of one piece, while in another the surface may dictate the form. With some of the ceramic objects the inner surface becomes the primary interest, while in others the outer surface is dominant. The glaze must enhance the ceramic object, but it cannot replace sensitivity in shape and proportion. That contour which is the touching of form and surrounding space defines the spirit of a ceramic piece. As I work toward the final shaping of a piece on the wheel, the fingers of my left hand often press outward to swell the form as my eyes watch the side of the piece until that edge seems to vibrate, in a sense, between the surface of the object and the space surrounding the object. This edge or contour is, of course, controlled by the space which the piece encloses. It is a matter of personal judgment and style as to the openness or closedness of a form. In most Greek pottery, for instance, the forms are closed spatially while many Sung Dynasty Chinese pieces open themselves to the intrusion of space. I find that the pieces of my work which are most satisfying and seem to hold the essence of my personal style have a certain vitality and openness—an outward thrust. The lips of some pieces turn outward to open up the forms.
Ceramic objects : containers and handpieces
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Created on 1/1/1972
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 1972