Sculptural Stoneware Vessels

Anne GoldmanCeramics

I work with large wheel-thrown vessels, utilizing the sensuous, responsive qualities of clay. The surfaces are carved and sculpted and sometimes the initial forms are altered. The natural world, both serene and dynamic, gives me comfort and strength. Land forms, nature’s sculptures, provide me with endless inspiration. The coastal rocks, rivers, waterfalls and volcanoes I have seen on my many travels have all been the sources of my visions. What I attempt to express is my love and reverence for the beauty of this earth. Clay is my language.

Anne Goldman has been involved in ceramics for over forty years. Her work has been represented extensively in museums, galleries, private collections and exhibitions in the US, Europe and Asia. These include New York’s Museum of Art and Design; the Smithsonian and Philadelphia Art Museums; Yale University’s Art Museum; the US Embassy in Bahrein; Milan’s International Design exhibition; Leipzig’s Grassi Museum in Germany; the Beijing International Art Expo; sacramental and baptismal vessels for a church in California; and numerous corporate installations among others.

Born in New York City, Ms. Goldman’s first profession was as a classical ballet dancer until illness ended her promising career. She married, moved to California and enrolled in anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley. In the 1980’s, she started to work with clay, focusing on functional forms. In the ’90s, when her mother became blind, her work took on deep textural and sculptural aspects which she continues to develop.

An avid world traveler, Ms. Goldman’s ceramics are strongly influenced by the landscapes in the many countries she has visited: from the terraced rice paddies of Bali to the jagged peaks of the Himalayas, the deserts of Rajasthan and the canyons of the American Southwest.

Draped Rock, a sculptural stoneware vessel by Anne Goldman
Draped Rock · Stoneware
Sculptural Forms

The Vessels

Canyon Wall Vessel with classic top

Canyon Wall Vessel

With Classic Top

“While hiking in Havasu Canyon, water poured over the walls of the canyon — this gave me the idea for this texture.”

Canyon Wall Vessel with sculpted top

Canyon Wall Vessel

With Sculpted Top

“The same canyon texture, crowned with a hand-sculpted top that rises like weathered rock.”

Coastal Rock Vessel

Coastal Rock Vessel

Carved Coastal Texture

“Magnificent rock formations along the California coast, near Salt Point south of Mendocino.”

Approximate height is 34″. Smaller sizes can be made.

Special Edition

Signature Pieces

A gallery of Anne’s most significant works — her largest, most complex forms.

Draped Rock
Draped Rock detail
I

Draped Rock

30″ High · Porcelain Slip & Iron Oxide

“The undulating form of so many cliffs and canyons I have seen in my travels gave rise to this vessel.”

Sea Shell
Sea Shell detail
II

Sea Shell

Approx. 30″ High · Fluted & Textured

“This idea came from the exquisite flare of a conch shell I found on a Caribbean isle years ago.”

Falling Waters
Falling Waters detail
III

Falling Waters

Approx. 28″ High · Complex Surface

“A magnificent series of waterfalls in Africa inspired this piece.”

Canyon Arch
Canyon Arch detail
IV

Canyon Arch

Wheel Thrown, Paddled & Sculpted, Pierced by a Slot Canyon

“The desert around Moab, Utah provides a lifetime of creative visions.”

Strata
Strata detail
V

Strata

22″ Wide · Thrown & Slab Built, Slipped, Carved & Pierced

“Captures the feeling of rock strata and pools of water — in particular, a formation I saw in the Nepali Himalayas.”

Anne Goldman’s Resume — I of V

Selected Shows & Exhibitions

Anne Goldman’s Resume — II of V

Museum Exhibits

Anne Goldman’s Resume — III of V

Selected Publications

Anne Goldman’s Resume — IV of V

Commissions & Installations

Anne Goldman’s Resume — V of V

Museum & Private Collections

Process

The Creation

Anne Goldman’s pieces are wheel-thrown and hand-carved. Made of stoneware clays, they are bisque-fired and then high-fired in a reduction atmosphere. Making a piece requires many steps, each of which demands perfection and is unforgiving of flaws. In its simplest form, the process of creation has seven steps.

1

Throwing

Anne starts each piece on the potter’s wheel. Depending on the size and form, the thrown piece may weigh from 5 to 80 pounds. She then trims it to the desired form and cuts the top to shape.

2

Thickening

The wall is thickened as necessary to accommodate the surface carving. Any flaw in the joining of inner and outer clays will cause the surface to peel off during firing.

3

Sculpting

Using various tools, Anne carves the piece’s surface, bringing an eclectic collection of tools and objects into service. At this time she may apply different clays and slips.

4

Drying

Critical due to the thickness of the carved walls. The piece must be completely dried throughout or it will explode when heated. Drying is slow to avoid cracking — sometimes several weeks.

5

Bisque Firing

Anne fires the green piece to Cone 08 to make it easier to handle without breakage. This is a three-day process.

6

Surface Treatment

After bisque firing, the sculpted surface is treated with various clays and slips to accent its fine features. As appropriate, glaze is applied to portions of the piece.

7

Reduction Firing

Finally, the piece is fired in a gas kiln to Cone 9, in reduction for part of the time to develop the clay’s color and glaze. This firing requires four days — one to heat, one to fire, two to cool.

“Each step demands perfection, and is unforgiving of flaws.”