John Glick

John Glick Plum Tree Pottery , Stoneware Mug, Deep Earth Tones, Glazed

2013

“Untitled” ceramic, is an example of the kind of work by which John Glick became so famous. He was seduced by the effects of the reduction kiln, which decreased the levels of oxygen during firing, inducing the flame to pull oxygen out of the clay and glazes changing the colors of the glazes depending on their iron and copper content. In this way he achieved the rich gradients of ochre and umber and variations in stippling and opacity. This piece is signed on the bottom and can be found on page 92, plate #125 in “John Glick: A Legacy in Clay.” John was an American Abstract Expressionist ceramicist born in Detroit, MI. Though open to artistic experimentation, Glick was most influenced by the styles and aesthetics of Asian pottery—an inspiration that shows in his use of decorative patterns and glaze choices. He has said that he is attracted to simplicity, as well as complexity: my work continually reflects my re-examination that these two poles can coexist… or not, in a given series. Glick also took influences from master potters of Japan, notably Shoji Hamada and Kanjrio Kawai, blending their gestural embellishments of simple forms with attitudes of Abstract Expressionism. He was particularly drown to the work of Helen Frankenthaler whose soak-stain style resonated with Glick’s multi-layered glaze surfaces, which juxtaposed veils of atmospheric color with gestural marks and pattern. He spent countless hours developing and making his own tools in order to achieve previously unseen results in his work with clay and glaze. Glick’s “Plum Tree Pottery...

SALE ONE WEEK ONLY John Glick is well-known for his beautifully rendered functional pieces of art. His decorative pieces, especially his large pots, are breathtakingly powerful objects. Glick's creative genius, however, is most exquisitely shown in this unique grouping of objets d'art. The Wall Hanging has a lovely classical scroll shelf. The objets on the shelf include an apple and pear - both fruits frequently rendered by artists from the Dutch Masters to Cezanne because of their perfectly balanced shape and rich colors. In addition is a small Greek or Roman styled dish used as an oil lamp. The other three objets are mysterious twisted tube-like organic shapes. John Glick, at one of his richest, creative bests. The objets are of various sizes, movable and can be displayed as desired. The size given is the overall size of both pieces and the objets d'art. "The works in John Glick’s “Mantel Series” are still life tableaux comprised of ordinary, yet intriguing objects that imply a history of people interacting with objects and each other over time. Imagine a lettr or poem from a loved one, once read, tucked among other fabourite things for safekeeping. Or a salty treasure carried in a dampened pocket and later deposited on a cottage shelf to dry, crackle and change. In essence, the mantels hold suggestive collections in which most people can find a part of themselves a link to a personal memory and a connection to a lost moment in time. His body of work, The Mantel Series, was partially inspired by a memory of a salt box that hung near his grandmother’s kitchen wood stove. For Glick, the unassuming little box, with its pleasing enigmatic shape and wooden lid, conjured pleasant boyhood memories, nostalgia for home and hearth, and vivid awareness of history. Upon his wall-based mantels, the artist placed a well-honed repertoire of distinct objects, all deftly crafted of clay, that become characters in his unspoken drama, each form playing off the others in the ensemble.” Plum Tree Pottery...