Johannes Gaston
Sterling Creek Studio Jacksonville
I studied historical metal smithing as an undergraduate and product design for my masters degree, in Zurich, Switzerland. I trained Metalsmiths in Swaziland Africa, briefly taught college design courses in Minnesota and then spent most of my life as a product designer, serving clients ranging from tiny startups to large global corporations. In 2014, I retired as a ceramic artist (together with my wife) in historic Jacksonville, Oregon.
My exploration of making functional objects from clay has taken me in different directions,
resulting in several distinct categories with unique characteristics as follows:
TOUCH-STONE
We don’t hold or touch our lips to many objects on a daily basis. Perhaps that’s what made me decide to focus on the “tactile” aspects of functional ceramics at a time when so much of our world has become virtual and completely devoid of physical connection.
I create dozens of sketches, then hand sculpt my tactile designs and make multipart molds, which I cast with porcelain slip and painstakingly finish. I often leave areas that are touched by hands “unglazed” in order to emphasize the beauty of raw fired clay, something we rarely experience with commercially made ceramics.
TERRA-CHROMA
The “Painted Hills” of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Northeastern Oregon served as my initial inspiration for working with colored clay, aka.Japanese “Nerikomi”. While traditional techniques (including Italian “Millefiori”) often have repeating patterns, (sometimes suggesting flowers, etc.), I tend to focus on abstracted “layers of the earth” and geological forces.
The textured bottoms reference ribbing of petrified sea shells, also providing a pleasant tactile experience when held in your hands. These pieces are predominantly stoneware and colored with oxides. The interiors are coated with a clear glaze to become functional. The exteriors are unglazed to suggest natural rock and soil.
VITA-FORM
Plants and trees grow and transform through unfolding or concentric layers. I used those principles to develop a series of sculptural bowls and serving dishes. Just as plants change in size and scale as they mature, I am exploring many sizes of different designs, ranging from tiny ramekin to large serving bowls. Most pieces are created with stoneware clay and completely glazed to reflect the translucent colors and textures of organic plant forms.
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