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Ceramics by
Roberta Friedman
Grapevine Studio
Email
My background in
biology and chemistry come into play as I weave the natural world into
my pieces. Years of experience in laboratories converge on the clay
spinning in my hands and in the mixing and pouring of the glazes. I
envision the flit of electrons among their orbits in cobalt, iron, and
copper heated in the crucible of the kiln, creating the colors locked in
glass bonded to the finished pieces. In my modest kiln I can recreate
the slow intense processes deep within the Earth that yield the minerals
I love to collect.
At Left: Plate from
Dinnerware Set |
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My pottery
experience began as I entered graduate school doing medical research in
Nashville, Tennessee, inspired by a community with many potters and
weekly crafts fairs. I returned to clay when I settled in Santa Cruz
more than two decades ago; it kept me sane while raising three boys, who
are now teenagers. I set up my own studio in 2002 in Live Oak then moved
it with my family near Lighthouse field in 2004.
My studio in a
greenhouse takes its name from the grape vine I planted that shades in
summer and drops its leaves to let in the sunlight to heat it in
winter--and whose leaves end up in some of the pieces! The power for the
kiln and wheel is solar, as we put on panels on the main house. In
harmony with nature, recreating her works, I look forward to many more
productive years of creative ceramics for daily, affordable use.
At Left:
Soap Dispenser - Ginko Leaf Motif - Celadon Glaze |
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I throw my functional pottery on an
electric wheel. The glazes I use are of my own composition, guided by
books, magazines, workshops and the Internet. Copper, iron, rutile, and
cobalt are my primary colorants. I use frits for most of my glazes, and
all are compatible for functional pieces with regular household use. For
my clay appliqué process, I use the pad left over after cutting pots
from the bat, and imprint leaves into the pad, then excise and apply. I
also cast shells I gather on local beaches and other found objects to
create bisque press molds that I then use to embellish my pots. I fire
to cone six in an electric kiln powered by solar panels on the property.
At Left: Teapot
& Mug with grapevine Leaf Motif |
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For a printable version of Roberta's
Artist's Statement (PDF) Click
HERE.
For a printable version of Roberta's
Pottery Resume (PDF) Click
HERE.
At Left:
Teapot
Set |
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Up • Bruce-Bangert • Jody Bare • Dale Bates • Brenda Berg • Fro Butler • Carolee-Burrows-Artist • Frank_Borovich • Roberta Friedman Ceramics • Helene • Dan & Laurie Hennig • Shirley-Hudson • Anouk-Johanna • Leah King • Linda A. Levy • Tina Masciocchi • Geoff-Jenny-Morten • Stephanie Schriver • Lorri Scott • GloriaS • Kathleen Miller Thomas • Breda Voss • Larry Worley |
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