The Bark imprint collection is part of CBstoneware. For information on pricing, sizes, turnaround time etc, please contact Binda via the about page. Conversations about collaboration or commissions are welcome.
Clay is alchemical. It begins as a moist, squishy substance that is literally unearthed, and after shaping and drying, it holds whatever shape it is given, whatever imprint the maker impresses on it. And after applying heat, it can become a solid strong enough to hold its shape for a long time. Further, if you heat it again, it becomes strong enough to carry things. That is amazing!
I do not throw on a wheel. I prefer to build by hand. I love The feel of clay on my hands. It feels like I am touching into the primordial ooze.
The imprint collection consists of a collection of glazed clay objects that play with the notion of negative space. The objects render the invisible visible. They also foreground what is usually in the background, elevating our awareness of the more-than-human world, and of the emotional sensations connected to daily physical actions.
Currently, I am making vessels which are made by imprinting clay into the crags of bark. The resulting imprint is an expression of the negative space around the bark. It is then formed into a vessel shape. Through my hands on the clay, I am getting to know the outer skin of a tree and turning it into the inner skin of a bowl. Looking at it from above, you can see the bark’s details or, a landscape seen from the air. The macro and micro exist together. It expresses the fractalness of the universe.
It help also me recognize that it is the empty space of the bowl that gives it meaning and use value. This zen concept resonates as an affirmation of the intention of these vessels. The negative space is rendered positive both by its use value as a container, by its reminder that this imprint is an expression of the many skins of our Earth, by the fact that the vessel is literally made of the body of the mother, and by the simultaneous existence of the macro and micro. via teh
It help also me recognize that it is the empty space of the bowl that gives it meaning and use value. This zen concept resonates as an affirmation of the intention of these vessels. The negative space is rendered positive both by its use value as a container, by its reminder that this imprint is an expression of the many skins of our Earth, by the fact that the vessel is literally made of the body of the mother, and by the simultaneous existence of the macro and micro. via teh
© 2022 Binda Colebrook