I didn’t know I wanted to become a potter when I was growing up. In fact it wasn’t until 1998 that the thought even occurred to me, and it happened quite accidentally. Since that time, I have continued to work in clay, honing my skills and gaining valuable experience. During my last year of undergraduate studies, I focused on how the surrounding environment could be interpreted to inform the surface of the vessel. Being that I lived in DeKalb and traveled often to and from Chicago on back roads, I became very familiar with the land that framed my journeys. Open space abounded – punctuated sporadically with a rusty grain bin or corn crib. The lines created in space were that of right angles; the colors that of dried corn stalks, rusted metal, and snow covered fields. The shapes I created were reminiscent of derelict towers and rundown farmhouses. In response, I began to create vessels that blurred the line between function and sculpture.
After obtaining my BFA from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb in 2001, I settled in Chicago to concentrate on becoming an urban potter. Moving to a different environment helped reinforce my interest in how ceramic works can be influenced by the immediate surroundings. However, the open spaces have now been replaced by a confinement that city dwellers know all too well. The actuality of limited personal space has led me to explore forms that I (and hopefully others) can live with without taking up too much room. Furthermore, the work is meant to be used in a ritualistic sense. Ritualistic not in the way of ceremony, but as part of a routine or everyday meditation. I see my current pieces as a way for people to connect with the handmade on a personal level. It is important to me that the work allow the user to slow down and enjoy something as simple as a cup of tea.
I make things out of clay and fire — objects that are meant to be used. Stoneware and porcelain clays provide structure to which glaze adds beauty. Furthermore, an atmospheric soda environment paints the work with shadows of the flame. I enjoy creating forms that are rooted in pottery traditions from both the east and the west. As such, I embrace the idea that pots are made to not only function, but enhance the experience of eating and drinking.
Chris Chaney, February 2011
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