Summary of Peter Voulkos, A Brief History
Peter Voulkos, a prominent figure in post-war ceramics, initially studied painting but found his passion for clay through a class, leading to a shift towards sculptural work.
Voulkos pushed boundaries in pottery, transitioning from traditional forms to more abstract and sculptural pieces, influenced by experiences at Black Mountain College.
His work challenged conventions in ceramics by cutting into and transforming vessels into sculptural pieces, which revolutionized the field.
Voulkos emphasized personal expression and wrestling with materials, spreading his philosophy to students and advocating for attacking materials to make them one's own.
His work is described as dynamic, powerful, and fearless, marking a shift in ceramics towards fine art.
Contributors
- Katie Nartonis
- Elizabeth Agro
- Vaea
- Scollon
Notable Quotes
— 01:40 — « And my mouth was just open all the time. »
— 02:15 — « The whole idea of not just making a pot or a vase, or a teapot was like incredible. Because suddenly you realize you could do anything. »
— 02:34 — « He cuts into them. He violates their vesselness which is against the law in ceramics. And this body of work really upset the field. »
— 03:05 — « If people resist what Im doing, I just dwell on that stuff, you know, I said, This guy isnt getting it you know and he resisted and thats all well and good to me because I dont expect to be understood at that kind of level. »
— 04:19 — « he was like a boxer, you know, running on, just running on this thing, running around and then you will be without shirt on and slapping this thing and cutting. »
Category
Art and Creativity