Harry Levenstein
My work is rooted in traditional techniques of pottery-making, drawing inspiration from folk and fine craft traditions including Japan, England, India, and America. By blending personal experience and sense of place with these influences, I pay homage to the rich multicultural heritage of craft that has shaped our understanding of form and function, and shine a light on the importance of the beautiful, well-crafted, and useful handmade object.
Using the potter’s wheel, I make pots which retain the soft quality of the workable clay and leave room for the effects left by the fire in the wood kiln. I utilize a variety of decorative techniques including slips, slip-trailing, gestural brushwork, carving and rope-impression. I make and decorate leaving the evidence of my touch.
The woodfire process leaves room for serendipity, underscores the beauty of natural processes, and allows for a direct interaction between myself and the fire. My training in woodfiring has offered me the working knowledge to harness the technique to my advantage, and the humility to know that the credit for its aesthetic boons can never be wholly mine; it is an elemental collaboration which offers the perfect venue for this dance of intention and chance.
This work celebrates the enduring relevance of traditional methods while infusing them with personal perspective. Each piece stands as a testament to the relationship between maker, material, nature, and place embodying a dialogue that transcends generations.