GORDON

HUTCHENS from page |

Another series of pieces have an elusive
velvety lustrous surface. These porcelain
or white stoneware pots are finished with
a slip glaze containing about 40 percent
local clay from my property on Denman
Island fired at cone 10 reduction then
painted with gold chloride accents and
refired. In these pots [ iry to capture a
feeling of timelessness, both ancient and
modem and very touchable,

I'm very attracted to variable glazes where
subtle differences in the action of the flame
can make a dramatic difference in the
character of the glaze, where the fire tells
the story. I get excited by the power of
heat; the way fire brings about the trans-
formation; the metamorphosis of elements
I've combined into something new,

For me the most important thing is finding
balance, not just physical balance, but the
balance between control and spontaneity,
traditional and contemporary, technique
and inspiration.

As potters, we help the earth to recreate
itself in beautiful ways that capture a bit of
our essence in the process,

Gordon Hutchens

GORDON HUTCHENS

June 3 - July 1, 1999

meet the artist at the opening
Saturday June 5
14:00 - 16:00

Gallery of BC Ceramics
1359 Cartwright Street
Granville Island
Vancouver, BC V6H 3R7
604-669-5645

open daily 10:30 - 17:30

HUTCHENS

Twenty-five years ago, Gordon Hutchens opened his studio on Denman Island where he
shows sculptural and functional works utilizing a broad range of techniques. It is on a
wooded 19-acre lot, a source for both inspiration and materials, and ts only five minutes
from the ferry landing.

Gordon's work is well known for the depth and diversity of glazes and the strength and
refinement of his forms. He formulates and blends all his own clay bodies using clays
from across North America as well as local materials for slips and glazes. The exception
is when he prepares porcelain, he uses a kaolin from England. Digging clay from his
property, he prepares an earthenware body of creates oil spot and metallic luster glazes.
Seaweed from the nearby beach is used in salt/sagger firings and local wood ash is
another major glaze ingredient.

At the age of 14, Gordon first became intrigued with pottery in Japan where he observed
the revered position of pottery in that culture, He felt, “this is truly a noble profession,”

Gordon received an honours degree in Fine Arts from the University of Illinois majoring
in Ceramics. Three semesters of glaze and clay chemistry combined with working as the
ceramic laboratory assistant gave him an unusually strong technical backpround.

He has had 25 single exhibitions and over 70 group shows across Canada and United
States with three major exhibitions in Japan. Articles about him and by him have been
published in various ceramic magazines and books. A recent video about his work titled
Variations on Raku isavailable in select stores. His works are in the Bronfman Family's
Claridge Collection as well as in Ottawa at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

Gordon's works are available through the Gallery of BC Ceramics on Granville Island
or at his studio, open daily 10:00 — 1720), Monday through Saturday. During the off
season months, it is best to phone 250-335-2409 to make an appointment. More
information about his current work can be found on his website:
www. lars.ark_com/—-hutchens

Works using the following techniques are on view in his studio.

June 1999

Salt Glaze Stoneware is a technigue origi-
nating in Medieval Europe, When the fir-
ing reaches a temperature of 24)0 degrees
F, saltorsodaashis thrown inthe kiln. The
sodium combines with the vitrified clay to
form an orange-peel textured glaze with
colours from the natural clay or coloured
clay slips.

Raku is a technique originating in Japan
during the sixteenth century and is closely
linked to the Zen Buddhism and tea cer-
emony. In its North American variation,
the pieces are removed from the kiln at the
peak of the firing while the glazes are still
molten and then placed in a sealed con-
tainer with straw and sawdust to cool, This
smoky atmosphere combines with copper
and silver in Gordon's glazes creating
lustrous and iridescent surfaces, To help
withstand the tremendous heat shock, the
clay is made very porous. Consequently
raku pots and containers are not suitable
for holding water,

Crystalline Glazed Porcelain is a tech-
nique that Gordon has been developing for
nine years and is now bringing into pro-
duction. This complicated technique emu-
Jates the natural formation of crystals in
rock cooling deep in the earth, though the
patterns create many other natural images,
The glaze, containing a high percentage of
zine along with metallic colorants such as
titanium, copper, cobalt, nickel, silver and
gold, grows natural, spontancous crystal
patterns impossible to duplicate.

Reduction Fired Earthenware is a low
temperature firing related to the French
Art Nouveau ceramics of the late 1800's,
The glaze has some of the depth and com-
plexity of highfired ware combined with
rich colours and lustrous surfaces avail-
able al lower temperatures. This is an area
where pottery is closely related toalchemy
both aesthetically and historically.

Cover image: woodfired stoneware with
natural wood ash surface