The Enso Series

     The enso is the zen circle, traditionally drawn by zen masters who accompany the enigmatic beauty of the circle with words from the buddhist tradition (You can click on the above picture to enlarge it in order to read those words).  The entire work is meant to express the awakened awareness of the artist, the radiant, open heart/mind of our true nature, the ineffable suchness of this very moment.  As D.T. Suzuki puts it, "the arts of Zen are not intended for utilitarian purposes, or for purely aesthetic enjoyment, but are meant to train the mind, indeed, to bring it into contact with ultimate reality."  I'm not a zen master, and only as awakened as we all are, but it struck me that the enso on pottery might be nice.

Found Feather Pots



     Years ago, when I first made pottery, I found a feather while walking in the woods.  I immediately thought, 'found feather pots,' but I didn't know what they were.  I've kept that idea in mind for a long time.  Just recently, as I was starting to make pottery again, I began to find feathers while hiking, and 'found feather pots' again appeared.  And what they are appeared too.  Feathers, birds, flight.  Feathers of course have always fascinated we humans.  They're magical, mystical, mysterious, part of ritual and healing ceremonies, conduits to the extraordinary.  I want to say things like 'connection to the earth and non-human beings,' 'the intrinsic radiance of the natural world,' 'the wisdom and compassion of emptiness in form,' 'coming across our true nature on the path up the mountain.'  What do the pots say? 

Sound of the Stream Teapots

     A mountain stream, Eight Mile Creek, runs through our land.  The sound of the stream takes one to the depths of the moment - reality just as it is - then on to poetry and perhaps pottery.  I'd like my teapots to echo the sound of the stream, the everflowing tao, the natural way of human life.  Maybe you can hear that from these teapots.