Roberta Friedman - Ceramics artist

Friedman’s background is in biology and chemistry converge on the clay and in the mixing and pouring of the glazes. Iron, cobalt and copper heated in the crucible of the kiln create colors locked in glass on the finished pieces to recreate intense processes deep within the Earth. Her clay appliqué process imprints leaves and cast shells from local beaches and other found objects to embellish her pots.

 

Jewel Box

Artist’s Statement:

In my modest kiln I can recreate the slow intense processes deep within the Earth that yield the minerals I love to collect. 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.

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--but too busy and too broke at the time--I returned to clay when I settled in Santa Cruz more than two decades ago; it kept me sane while raising three boys.

I throw my functional pottery on an electric wheel. The glazes I use are of my own composition. Copper, iron, rutile, and cobalt are my primary colorants. I use frits for most of my glazes, and all are compatible 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 press molds that I then use to embellish my pots.

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 warming sunlight in winter--the leaves end up in some of the pieces! The power for the electric kiln and wheel is solar, with panels on the main house. In harmony with nature, recreating her works, I look forward to productive years of creative ceramics for daily, affordable use.


Gingko Lotion Jar

 

Teapot

 

Grapevine Mug

 

Gingko Bowl

 

Roberta Friedman
email: roberta@nasw.org
Website: http://www.gtweekly.com/everything-sc/details/grapevine-studio-2