Artist Statement

I make pots with food, flowers and candles in mind. I choose to make these pots with a foundation in folk tradition. For me, this involves using a variety of hand processed local clays and glaze materials, single firing in a wood burning kiln, and using a kick wheel. These ingredients promote surprises and keep my craft connected to the natural world.

My pots continue to change over time under the influence of pottery making traditions adopted from my teachers Will Ruggles and Douglass Rankin. Several trips to central Italy have inspired a figurative direction in the form of candlesticks, vases and bowls.

The clay I mix by hand is a blend of ingredients from North Carolina and Georgia. Twenty five percent of the body is local red earthenware. The nontoxic glazes, which melt at 2300 degrees, are composed primarily of these local ingredients: feldspar, silica, red clay, kaolin and ash from my woodstove. Other more processed materials are mixed with these.

The pots are fired in a two chambered kiln fueled with wood which is salvaged from burn piles at a nearby sawmill. The combination of wood flame and ash, which melts into the clay and glaze, can produce colors and surfaces reminiscent of objects found in nature. Like these objects, wood fired pots can look similar to each other but never identical. This unpredictability and variation makes every kiln load a new opportunity to explore.

The pots are oven and dishwasher safe. Though I have never had a problem with daily microwave use, I can’t recommend it. Do not heat the pots on an open flame or electric burner and avoid extreme temperature changes such as freezer to preheated oven. Feel free to email if you have pottery questions.

Artist Bio

Born: Lancaster,PA.
BFA Kutztown University 1990.

1990-1995 Attended 25 pottery and painting workshops at Penland School of Crafts. 1993-1995 lived at Penland as part of the CORE STUDENT work exchange program.

In 1991, after a two month workshop with Will Ruggles & Douglass Rankin, I fell in love with clay and fire and was determined to be a wood fire potter.

1996-1999 RESIDENT ARTIST at Penland School of Crafts.
Built a catenary wood kiln and made pots full time, experimenting with local clay & glaze materials. Also began to explore oil painting.

Established Shawn Ireland Pottery in 1997.

Participated in numerous national exhibitions & Craft Shows since 1994- including Mint Museum Potters Market and Smithsonian Craft Show.

VISITING ARTIST INTERNSHIP: University of Georgia, Athens.
I have spent three semesters potting and oil painting in beautiful Cortona, Italy. 2006-2008.

Schedule

Pottery showroom and studio open daily 10-5
No need to call ahead.

EVENTS for 2012:

Hello pottery friends. This spring & summer i will be working abroad. There will still be pots available in my studio showroom & at the following galleries. See you again in the Fall!

AKAR Gallery. Iowa City, IA

American Folk. Asheville,NC

Crimson Laurel Gallery. Bakersville,NC

Frank Gallery. Chapel Hill, NC

Mudfire Gallery. Atlanta, GA

March 23   "UNOMI SHOW". AKAR Gallery. ONLINE CUP SHOW.

Oct 13-14   SPRUCE PINE POTTERS MARKET. Spruce Pine, NC.

Contact

Shawn Ireland Pottery
134 Penland Road
Bakersville NC 28705
828 765-5737

JOIN MY MAILING LIST to receive show & sale info.

Send an email to Shawn Ireland

Website

Visit Shawn's personal websites:

 VIEW SOME POTS FROM MAY 2011 FIRING

 future website

 To view oil paintings and drawings, please make appointment via phone or email.

Gallery