David W Henion
My ceramic life began about 18 years ago when I signed up to take an Amherst leisure services class. It was love at first throw. I took a few more classes and then joined Mud Pie Potters, a shared pottery studio at the Leverett Crafts and Arts building here in Leverett. It was a great place to learn and grow. Like a toddler learning to walk proficiency on the wheel takes time, three years to get the basics, fifteen to be able to dance with the clay. I out grew Mud Pie when I built a kiln and moved my studio to my home four years ago.
From the beginning I felt that porcelain was the material that I had to work with. The white clay body has a purity of color, a great ping when pinged, can be light to hold, and it can show the bright colored glazes that I work for. I have been most inspired by Chinese ceramics. China is named after china after all. I have studied ceramic history in books and through travel. I have visited museums in this country, Europe and Asia.
Functional work takes up most of my time, but I do like the challenge of sculptural pieces. Lao Tsu in the “ Tao TE Ching “ says among many things:
Shape clay into a vessel;
It is the space within that makes it useful.
I find the forming of a bowl endlessly fascinating. There is no end to the ways you can define the curve of a bowl. It is a simple thing, the cupping of the hands to hold water, it is that space created that is useful. It gives me joy that am able to share the ceramics I create with others. They go out into the world in many directions. Like the maple tree that drops thousands of seeds not knowing which will sprout and grow, my work travels in time and space and like my children will go on in time beyond my years.
 |
 |
 |