Description
1998 John Ransmeier North Carolina Pottery Huge Heavy Studio Pottery Platter.Very heavy, strong, durable, high fired platter. This thing would take a chunkout of a sidewalk if dropped on it I'm sure. It's a real monster, a real work ofart. Both Simple yet complex at the same time. 21" x 16" x 3.5" deep, afunctional work of art in mint condition with no damage or wear whatsoever. Johnused a variety of clays I believe. This is a very strong Stoneware clay(not redclay) fired at a high temperature & salt glazed, therefore very durable andheavy.John RansmeierJohn grew up in Asheville, North Carolina. His interest in clay began in highschool. After a visit to the Penland School of Crafts, a bit of research andsome ingenuity, he built his first kick wheel in 1970. From books, he taughthimself how to throw clay & make pots.During an apprenticeship with Gene Bunker, John worked in porcelain andconcentrated in glaze reduction. After a year of study at the Kansas City ArtInstitute, he established a studio in the Highwater Crafts Center in Asheville,NC & co-founded Biltmore Clay Company. He went on to study with potters SethDuberstein of New Paltz, New York & Paul Chaleff of Pine Plains, New York.After working as a studio potter in production porcelain, John studied for twoyears at The University of North Carolina at Asheville & then received his BFAfrom Alfred University in Alfred, New York in 1990. He spent some time doinggraduate work at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, & then moved toSanta Fe, New Mexico where he established a working studio for the next fouryears.After returning to North Carolina in 1994, John built a wood fire kiln andestablished a studio in Weaverville, North Carolina where he lives & workstoday. His work has spanned a wide spectrum of processes, clay bodies, glazesand style. John continues to travel across the country exhibiting in fine craftshows & selling his work in galleries & museums in the southeast.John Ransmeier Pottery, Weaverville NCAll work is assembled from slab, wheel-thrown, pressed & coil elements. Piecesare then high fired in a reducing atmosphere using biofuel.Making pots is about evolution. As long as I feel my work is progressing,I don'tworry. Not long ago,I tried to maintain control over surfaces & glazes.Inreaction to that,I have gravitated toward a looser way of making pieces usingglazes that I could't control even if I tried.Perhaps reduction firing, with itsown tendency toward variation has nudged me in this direction.I am alwayslooking for ways to allow my work to progress. There is a saying, "At the pointof origin, lie the most possibilities. "My goal is to keep enough freedom in mywork to allow those possibilities to take form. 1998 John Ransmeier North Carolina Pottery Huge Heavy Studio Platter
