ARTIST’S STATEMENT

My current work is a reflection of what I have experienced in life.  The vessel form has always held my attention, even though I have made very few functional pieces in my career.  My current work reflects my recent communing with the people, and their environments, of Africa and Amazonia (Peru).

The pieces speak to me:  “I am both old and young, I heal with my presence.  My inhabitants create their daily sustenance, yet I am here to make them feel safe at the end of the day.  I am of the earth, created by my residents, and I will return to the earth when they are done with me.”

“Although my current residents will move on, I will always be here, awaiting the next participants, knowing that I am part of the endless circle of life”.

I love the way clay responds to my touch … the way it comes alive as I reflect on the experiences of my life.  I believe that these creations reflect how all of the peoples of the world are truly one, and that we all have one key commonality – that our dwellings and basic utensils are both important to our daily existence, but also that they represent who we are as inhabitants of this earth.  Knowing that each and every one of the dwellings on this planet holds untold stories of survival, love and of their inhabitants, is humbling.

I celebrate the common power that these dwellings represent:  that we are all “warriors in life” … that we can celebrate together in the human experience.  That we can all know the common goal of nurturing and protecting our families, supporting them as they pursue their dreams - in the warmth of our common sun - is my goal and prayer.

Other work of Kevin's:

This piece is a "shard wall", consisting of hundreds of wheel-thrown and raku fired vessels.  They were cracked and then assembled onto a custom-built aluminum frame.  What does it mean to you?  Perhaps an archeological site, perhaps a symbol of deconstruction? And, if you're in the Berkeley area, ask to see it - the "remains" are in the Kids 'N' Clay garden.       

This work is another version of the "shard" wall that is seen above. 
In this case, 4 narrower panels stand side-by-side, creating a more imposing installation.  This work was featured in the annual Scripps Annual (2001) Ceramics show at the Claremont (Los Angeles, CA) Colleges, as shown in the photo.  Some of these panels are now in Kevin's private residence, others have gone to private collectors.

These are examples of Kevin's signature "cracked pots" ... wheel-thrown, cracked, Raku'd with subtle patinas and reassembled into these beautiful decorative vessels.  Pieces like these are in many private collections and exhibitions around the world.  The process of destruction and reassembly is analyzed as a metaphor for creative rebirth in Sue Bender's book "Everyday Sacred".

Click on the Kids 'N' Clay book cover to
get more information on Sue's books: