Marty Fielding

Marty Fielding

Utility, beauty, and evolution hold me in this relationship with clay. The inherent usefulness of pottery carries a long precedent as a palette for expression. My approach to working with clay is slowly but constantly evolving as I investigate this balance between function and aesthetic. Shapes and designs build upon themselves and new versions of form and decoration permeate the body of work and refresh the process.

I have chosen to work on a slow turning treadle wheel for its tendency to accentuate the softness of the clay. While half of my work is thrown traditionally, the other half employs hybrid handbuilding techniques of assumbing geometric shapes from thrown slabs. Applying wax to resist consecutive layers of glaze, I am able to create contrast, depth, and motion on the surface. The work is fired in gase reduction to 2400 degrees.

In a world where the pace only quickens, I hope to offer a moment of tranquility in each pot. -- Marty Fielding

Oblong Serving Boat #2