Earth & Fire: Modern potters, their tools, techniques and practices

Description

Earth and fire represent the two elements that produce a ceramic object. Without the other they are simply components; together they create both practical objects and pieces of art. Working as both primer and inspiration, Earth and Fire explores the techniques, practices and tools of over forty-five working ceramicists. Creating everything from woodfired and fine porcelain wares, sculptured vases, everyday cups, bowls and plates, to jewellery and wall pieces, these artists work in a wide range of styles and mediums to create their ceramics. Although the methods vary, the overall sentiment is that the earth and fire that the artists use to make their objects are the ultimate masters. Just when they think they know one thing, the clay, glaze and heat will teach them another. There will always be more to learn. Working with clay is, quite simply, humbling. Written and compiled by Kylie Johnson and Tiffany Johnson, Earth & Fire captures the diverse beauty and utility of ceramics, demonstrating that clay doesn't just get under your fingernails; it gets under your skin.

Kylie Johnson is a Brisbane-based ceramic artist, gallery owner and writer. Her ceramic studio and gallery, paper boat press, produces signature quote tags, Christmas ornaments and poetry vessels. Over the past ten years, she has curated more than twenty-five exhibitions of both Australian and Japanese artists in her gallery. Kylie has had two books of poetry published in 2008 and 2010, and a collection of quotes from her ceramic work published in 2014. She creates her own ceramic art pieces marked with her poetry, as well as a large range of ceramic items. Tiffany Johnson has had a long and rewarding career in book production and publishing for over twenty years in the UK and Australia. She has had a hand in producing some of the most awarded books of the last two decades and has taught book production to many. During the same period she has been by her sister Kylie Johnson's side, working on paper boat press ceramic exhibitions and projects. Turning an interest in writing and photography into her first authored project, together they wrote and photographed Utsuwa: Japanese objects for everyday use published by Thames & Hudson Australia in 2021.

There should be more books like this, where we can feel reassured that having a life in art is valid and enduring. -- Vipoo Srivilasa