Julie Devers, Wood-Fired Pottery
The life, beauty, and personality of a ceramic vessel are revealed gradually from within. My simple, fluid forms are wood fired in order to embrace the honest, subtle handling of clay materials. The rich expanse of surface is much like a landscape balanced with delicate subtleties that can go unnoticed in a busy world.
Working within a context of functionality, I recognize my role in the evolution and longevity of traditional pottery making. There are revelations and rewards in working alone, in a quiet, rural environment, with a process involving rhythm and repetition. The discovery of subtle and austere inspiration enhances my artistic journey and defines a philosophy of beauty through humility. Pots fired in an anagama wood kiln have minimal glaze applied to the surface. The finished color and surface are determined by the clay materials, placement in the kiln, temperature and the duration of the firing. In a five day kiln firing, the ash of several cords of wood melts to form a glazed surface. The flame creates subtle and unique patterns as it weaves through hundreds of stacked pots. The physical and emotional experience of the firing process seems to radiate from each one-of-a-kind piece unloaded from the kiln.
-Julie Devers
Education
Master of Fine Arts, 1990; University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1986; University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame,
IN
Experience
Owner and Studio Potter, Newgrange Pottery; May 1995 to present
Ceramics Instructor, Kalamazoo Institute of Art, Kalamazoo, MI;
April 2001 to present