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 | 
