Longtime potters Kristin Dalziel and Uta Uecker are exhibiting their work this month at the Fire Arts Center Gallery in Arcata. An Arts! Arcata reception is planned for June 14 from 5 to 7 p.m.
While both of these ceramic artists create primarily wheel-thrown pieces with surface designs that emphasize the forms they make, there are some differences in their end product. “We work at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Her pieces are dainty and fragile versus I love to throw big,” said Uecker, who recalls taking her first ceramics class in 1982 at Monterey Peninsula College.
“I immediately fell for the beautiful lure and sometimes ‘torture’ of the endless possibilities and challenges that the medium entails,” she said. “And, I guess it’s the magic of transformation of mud into a vitrified solid that caught my attention.” Dalziel took her first ceramic class in college about 20 years ago.
“During that first semester, I knew I had found my passion,” she said. “I find clay the most enjoyable because it is very malleable if you want to make changes. .
.. Plus, you can recycle unfired clay.
You can gather your wheel trimmings and dried funky pots that didn’t turn out quite right, re-moisten with water and you are back to the original ball of clay to then create something anew. Also, the materials are from the earth, from the clay to the colorants to the glazes. .
.. I enjoy being able to create from sources directly from the natural environment.
Many of my pie.