Visiting Artist Feature: Kevin Crowe
This month’s Meet the Maker feature is a look into the life of Visiting Artist, Kevin Crowe of Tye River Pottery.
Kevin has been making pots in his studio at Tye River Pottery for over forty years. He produces wood-fired functional stoneware with strong Asian and English roots. He teaches throwing, firing and kiln building workshops far and wide and offers weekend workshops.
Learn more about Kevin below and sign up for the 2 Day Intensive May 17th & 18th.
HAND / THROWN Tell us a little bit about you!
KEVIN CROWE: A motorcycle wreck 45 years ago landed me recuperating in the ceramics dept at the college of William and Mary where I was resigned to wait out 3 weeks before the plaster body cast came off. Against many odds I took the bait and resignation became obsession.
HT: Tell us about the workshop you’ll be teaching.
KC: The workshop will focus on the challenges we all face along the journey to become competent potters. What is my voice, How can I increase scale, why do my pots peak at 10 inches no matter how much clay I use, on and on, no?
We’ll work on the blocks that hold us back aesthetically and technically and explore the distance between competence and confidence. These issues confront us regardless of what forms we are working on.
HT: Who should take this workshop?
KC: Participants in the workshop should be able to center and throw very basic forms. Bothe the advanced and newer potters will benefit from the challenges we’ll explore.
HT: What type of clay do you like to work with, why?
KC: I use Laguna’s B Mix Wood and a custom blend Laguna mixes for me which is 2 pts B Mix Wood and 1 pt Soldate 60 ( a high fire taking body).
I fire with wood and require a body tight enough to support the accumulation of ash glazing while being strong enough to endure the trauma of high temperatures over long firings. I also throw very soft clay which allows for east of throwing and a more responsive body. Over years of teaching workshops throughout the country I shocked at how uniformly hard the clay in studios is.
HT: Where do you find inspiration for your work?
KC: I remember an apprentice telling me “ I’m not like you Kevin I make pots inspired by cooking , serving and storing food. “ I thought he was wrong until I’d chewed on his take on me and realized I’m moved by the tension I see in bridges, arched tunnels, stone walls. For me pots are
All about tension in an arch it’s beginning its termination and the space held between. I respond to forms with that quality we call “soul” more than technical mastery.
H/ T: Who are some artists you admire, why?
KC: Ah there are so many for so many reasons. My earliest influences are Hamada and Leach. Contemporary potters are Svend Bayer, Jack Troy, Lisa Hamilton, Shiro Tsujimura, Joy Brown, Victoria Hansen, Ken Sedberry and Mark Skudlarek. I could go on.
Svend Bayer
Shoji Hamada
Joy Brown
Tea Bowl by Kevin Crowe
HT: Describe your favorite piece of pottery (currently).
KC: Currently I’m taken by a large tea owl from my last firing. Tea bowls are like haiku. They are best thrown quickly, not over thought and alive with movement and tension Drinking from a tea approximates scooping water from a stream with cupped hands. Simple and sacred.
Kevin Crowe
Kevin Crowe
Kevin Crowe
Sign up for Kevin’s class! A weekend intensive where you can take your throwing to a new level Saturday, May 17th & Sunday, May 18th.
And follow along for updates about Hand / Thrown sharing his work.
