Kate and Will Jacobson
Artist Statement
Kate and Will Jacobson’s thirty-five year collaboration has given them fire,
laughter, wonder and joy. Through their work they attempt to create a
harmonious substance of form, line, and color. These explorations lead
them to gaze at the world with the hearts as well as their minds.
Their approach to making art is much more intuitive than pragmatic. When
working, they allow the fate of the clay to reveal itself and then they
embrace the experience. It’s almost an involuntary response where they are
simultaneously the guide and the seeker.
Their technique is called Naked Raku. They call it naked because they
expose the unadorned, earthly beauty of the clay. They celebrate such
natural grace by allowing it to speak with it’s own voice. They call it raku
because they fire in the tradition of Japanese potters. Naked Raku
succeeds tradition by using a slip/glaze combination as a resist to the clay.
Will is extraordinarily talented at throwing clay on the potter’s wheel. His
forms speak of a graceful elegance which is timeless. Kate does the hand
building of the vessel lids and most of the etching and painting. The
language of clay transcends time and place; history and culture are
communicated through the potter’s hands and preserved forever.
Artist Statement
Kate and Will Jacobson’s thirty-five year collaboration has given them fire,
laughter, wonder and joy. Through their work they attempt to create a
harmonious substance of form, line, and color. These explorations lead
them to gaze at the world with the hearts as well as their minds.
Their approach to making art is much more intuitive than pragmatic. When
working, they allow the fate of the clay to reveal itself and then they
embrace the experience. It’s almost an involuntary response where they are
simultaneously the guide and the seeker.
Their technique is called Naked Raku. They call it naked because they
expose the unadorned, earthly beauty of the clay. They celebrate such
natural grace by allowing it to speak with it’s own voice. They call it raku
because they fire in the tradition of Japanese potters. Naked Raku
succeeds tradition by using a slip/glaze combination as a resist to the clay.
Will is extraordinarily talented at throwing clay on the potter’s wheel. His
forms speak of a graceful elegance which is timeless. Kate does the hand
building of the vessel lids and most of the etching and painting. The
language of clay transcends time and place; history and culture are
communicated through the potter’s hands and preserved forever.