Robin DuPont: FLOW

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Robin DuPont, "Shovel Head Vase," nd

woodfired porcelain with natural ash glaze, 15" x 14" x 5"

ARTIST TALK JUNE 9 ROBIN DUPONT - FLOW  CELEBRATE CANADA 150 - JUNE FEATURE

Porcelain vessels teem with surface texture and pattern in our June Feature of Robin DuPont’s new works. Known for his atmospheric wood firing from his anagama kiln, the artist also fires with train and soda kilns. This new work involves pieces from all these various ways of firing, which reveal subtle and inexplicable tones, surfaces, and effects. 

Context is a contributing factor in ceramic practice, DuPont explores how the circumstance of his practice - the clay, the wood, the kiln, the time of year, the weather, the colleagues who help fire – affect the pots that emerge from the kiln. He is motivated by how the specific context of particular firings produces distinctive results: ash deposits, flashings, natural glaze surfaces, the tones and textures characteristic of wood fired vessels. 

"Robin DuPont's pots exude the essence of aesthetic conviction, skillful discernment, clarity of strong form and a master's control of the flame path. He captures the atmosphere and turmoil of a wood or soda kiln to create a brushed magic on the surfaces of his pots; pots that embrace their inherent purpose to enhance daily life, authentic in their role to serve and undeniable in their sensuous beauty." 

Katrina Chaytor, Ceramics Faculty, Alberta College of Art + Design, Calgary, Alberta.

Admired for his surfaces, studio potter and teacher Robin DuPont makes fine art ceramic pieces as well as a wide variety of handmade functional pottery. He specializes in atmospheric wood firing techniques that utilize wood as the sole source of fuel to fire his kiln to extremely hot temperatures, often without glaze, to leave a rich, earthy one-of-a-kind surface on each piece. He frequently fires his kiln over a number of days such as a five (5) day firing of his anagama kiln, resulting in the natural ash glazing literally pouring over the surfaces of the vessels. His investigations into development of color in relation to rates of cooling have allowed him to produce seductively sensuous soda fired porcelain objects.