A Century of Ceramics In the United States 1878-1978

A Century of Ceramics in the United States 1878-1978, which was originally produced to accompany the Everson’s traveling exhibition of the same name. The film is narrated by Citizen Kane director Orson Welles, and features commentary from ceramic historian Garth Clark, as well as studio visits with Peter Voulkos, Victor Schreckengost, and Syracuse University’s own Margie Hughto, who served as co-curator of the original exhibition.

[@BluntAsAlways]

A gift to the ceramics world. Thank you a thousand times for sharing this.

[@martamatray2744]

thanks Steve!

[@professorpaulwandless7464]

Great historical video with wonderful footage of some of our most iconic artists at the end speaking about their work. Thanks for sharing!

[@mudfondler]

Well worth it, if only for hearing the great Orson Welles intone the words, "Exploring the Essence of the Sensuous Earth". The few minutes' footage of Voulkos manipulating clay is truly revealing of his virtuosity but the scantily clad belly dancer treading on his soft bowls under his close supervision is a little hard to swallow for contemporary taste. Such was the unquestioned patriarchal privilege of the day. Voulkos, Soldner and others doubtless exploited it to the full. A young, earnest Garth Clark being a little stilted before the camera is very worthwhile too. What a time-capsule document of an important moment, which the Everson had the vision -- and the budget -- to pull off. It is amazing that Welles did the narration. Perhaps someone on the Everson's board knew him. I cannot imagine a similar production being sanctioned today with an actor with a voice of similar stature, say, Morgan Freeman, narrating.

[@juanaolg]

Thank you so much for sharing this with everyone. This is incredibly cool.

[@sheila8730]

This was a great history of ceramics, and some of the artists.

[@deanadams1000]

Thank you for this!

AWESOME

[@victhizz1]

this sound track kicks ass

[@lindastauffer8855]

Saw this show in Syracuse back in 1978. So sad this film has lost its color.

[@credenza1]

Literally and metaphorically.

[@glenncambray9783]

"Freedom, just around the corner to you, but with truth so far off. What good will it do?" The Japanese potters are on a whole different level to these jokers. The level of pretension on display here is beyond belief.

[@louisreilly2798]

Very cool!

[@ollas77]

Completely unbelievable that the 2000 year old history of Ceramics in the American Southwest is totally ignored. The huge body of work spanning centuries in America is discarded: the ceramics of Nampeyo, Maria Martinez, Lucy Lewis, Margaret Tafoya, and hundreds of other Native Americans are intentionally excluded.

[@mihaiilie8808]

Thats about archeology not modern art.

[@ollas77]

e@@mihaiilie8808 Excuse me but Pueblo pottery was made and sold at all levels of the modern art market for decades from trading posts to city department stores where they were sold next to oil paintings, oriental rugs, and fancy silverwork. In addition, these Pueo pottery ceramics were not made to be used ethnographically in the villages, but were made to be sold to the art world. Their molding and painting were influenced by and influenced the creations of modern art and deserve to be acknowledged. There is nothing "archaelogical about them. Check out the work and story of Nampeyo in Steve Elmore's book: In Search of Nampeyo to educate yourself.

[@mihaiilie8808]

The ceramic you talk about it's traditional or folk art. Naive art not elevated art like that of Paul Soldner and Peter Voulkos. Pueblo pottery it's very beautiful and I myself made 3 pots but there is a difference between traditional artisans and influential artists like Paul Soldner.

[@ttvmikimoto5379]

Just found two large pottery pieces in a private cave and am trying to figure out what they are. The only thing they resemble so far of what I’ve seen is that Roman pottery that looks much thicker and has that red glaze but I know that can’t be right because it’s in Missouri.

[@ttvmikimoto5379]

🙄🙄🙄 Peter Volkous, that’s just marketing yourself as misunderstood creative genius. That’s guy sucked compared to the other guys they showed.

[@glenncambray626]

He's insufferable.

[@hojoinhisarcher]

jan23

[@ivannoevigna2501]

1978?????????? 1978

[@credenza1]

So much empty pretension