The Exotic Teapot

M.C. Escher is known for his graphic shapes which created a tantalizing maze.  Through sheer determination the Dutch artist started with one subject then repeatedly positioned into an amazing motif tiling.  An algorithm created to emulate his process is successfully shown in the teapot image to the right.  Escher progressed to add two objects then three as he perfected his complex tiling artwork.  Only four circle shaped patterns were created throughout his career.  The teapot image below was produced applying Escher’s non linear warp method. 

How many baby boomer girls made potholders with the loom kit mum bought from the local craft store?   Madeline Kaczmarczyk perfected potholders then proceeded to creating ceramic teapots.  She air brushes her vessels, low fire bakes in the kiln then meticulously embellishes each with tiny beads, golden pieces and anything else that wreaks femininity.  Madeline’s teapots are so stylish that most women wish they were purses.

There is a TV commercial in the USA with a mini giraffe that viewers just love.  Even though not real ,who would not understand why the giraffe’s body shape would not be regularly emulated as  a teapot: it’s extended neck as the spout to control the pouring of steeped tea; round body as the base to retain enough cups of tea for guests; long legs for a handle, and; colourful spots for design.  If you haven’t seen the mini giraffe, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVxxLYmypv8

Ever walked on the beach and had some glob catch your eye not because of its beauty but because of its texture caused by the strong seas, ocean breezes and sandy floors?  Artist Susan Collett must have experienced this phenomenon.  She, with clay, emulates the push and pull forced by nature.  The result is a chaotic combination of shells, mollusks and fossilized sea creatures loosely shaped into one of the most admirable forms of all time, the teapot.

Lips, feet, shoulders, rotund, jolly are some common characteristics used to describe people and teapots.   This is why ceramic artist Suze Lindsay designs her pots with identifiable hips or waists and legs or feet. She uses the handles and spouts as arms, shaping then placing in such a way that creates a mood or personality.  At first glance Lindsay’s pots are of mere contemporary genre.  Look again.  Do you now see the human characteristics of a female?

For centuries tea has entered the political arena hence impacting societies, prosperity and traditions around the world.  In 1391 the Ming Dynasty in China ruled that loose teas were to be honoured by the courts instead of tea bricks.  In 1773 a historical event in the soon to be USA occurred, rebuking taxation of tea from the British Parliament. This was instrumental to the American Revolution.  Today, if using a US search engine such as Google.com then typing in tea party over 72,500 links appear, with the first page and many more associated with the current political movement called the tea party.  These are just two nations’ examples.  The history of tea and its benefits indicate what a precious commodity it truly is.   

According to accredited research drinking tea can boost your mental state. Tea has amino acid L-theanine which helps the brain relax and stay focused.  Drinking 4 cups daily of black tea lowers cortisol, the hormone associated with stress.  Red teas are known to relax irritations; green tea studies have shown that 2 cups daily reduce the risk of confusion by 50%.  The infamous late British actor and play writer, Arthur W. Pinero was correct:  Where there’s tea there’s hope.

Black, robust, aromatic plus delicious with or without milk or sugar defines a great breakfast tea. Organic black teas from India in the Assam region are some of the most superb morning blends.  This is due to Assam’s perfect balance of humidity and heat.  These growing conditions result in tea that has a gentle malty yet spicy taste.

Bush tea, rooibos, redbush tea, whatever you want to call it, is not a fad.  Tea from the rooibos bush, grown in South Africa, has been used for centuries.  In this region, mothers know to use the herbal beverage to help babies’ suffering from colic.  Empirically, research has shown the tea to: have the equivalent if not more of green tea’s antioxidants; soothe allergies, and; have an anti-aging affect.  If not of interest then the tea’s flavour should be.  Due to its popularity, the bright red tea is now offered with a variety of exotic spices and fruits to compliment the taste.   

It’s no wonder that the jasmine flower is revered by tea drinkers.  It's bloom is one of the most fragrant of all natural living plants.  Jasmine is used in most perfumes and its extract in many aromatherapy oils.  This midnight blooming flower has been referenced around the world for centuries in a multitude of lyrics and poetry.  Research has shown it calms the nervous system, helps PMS and aids insomnia.  What’s more, legend has it that it is an aphrodisiac.

A study published in General Denistry reported that drinking green tea is better for your teeth than sodas or juices.  Bottled green teas do not apply as these contain citric acid and sugars.  These ingredients, along with milk, are harmful because they have an erosive effect on the teeth.  Green tea made at home, using fresh tea leaves and pure water, is the only way to attain the beneficial flavonoids and antioxidants the beverage naturally contains. 

All of his adult life Brian Molanphy has studied how to make things.  As a college student he studied bookmaking and papermaking.  While participating in a European bicycle tour, he became intrigued at wood fired stoves and kilns.  So he decided to learn how to make breads, pastries and ceramic pots.  Then, after getting his master’s degree in ceramics, he decided to teach others how to make things.  Yet, he continues to make things of his own, especially decorative ones such as this porcelain cup and ceramic teapot. 

Bonnie Seeman designs utilitarian ceramic teapots to reveal intimate details of living structures and anatomical features.  Somehow she manages to create a magnificent vessel by showing a dissected vegetable inserted in a human organ then strategically placing an insect here or there.  The combination of coloured glazes, longitudinal, intricate embellishments and textures all but forces the viewer to attempt identifying what the teapot symbolizes.

Imagine attending a party full of brainless ladies holding cups that have fingers and saucers that appear to have the ability to walk off the table.  The concept and sculpture is that of Ronit Baranga’s, created for his solo exhibition “Shells of Wings”.  Additionally, Baranga received honorable mention in the designbloom® “dining in 2015” competition for crafting finger walking teapots, cups and saucers.  Has the Mad Hatter Tea Party theme met its match?

Jake Jarodsky is an old soul in a young body.  He knew in his teens that he would be an artist.  Jake was torn between becoming a sculptor or a potter.  Because of his intense undergraduate studying, he was hired as a studio aid.  This is where he learned mixing glazes, kiln temperature results, glass blowing and much more.  He chose his higher educational institution based on his admiration of the sage artist and professor Yih-Wen Kuo.  Jake's motto is:

I believe one must do what feels right, regardless of the outcome. The reason I say regardless of the outcome is because it is better to stand up for what you believe in and maybe fail, than not try at all. It is better to be truthful to one’s self, than live with lies and not pursue ones truth.

I expect to see lots of fabulous teapots from Jake over the next few decades.

Artist Ursula Hargens believes flowers communicate newness, animation and flamboyance.  Perhaps growing up in Nova Scotia, where four overtly identifiable seasons occur, exposed Ursula to the glory of annuals and perennials native to her homeland.  Ursula’s teapots, cups and platters dance with an array of colourful blooms, all of which have an oriental undertone. She hopes that the clear, crisp form of the vessels allows the flowers to speak volumes. 

What to name the new furry or feathered addition to the family is a joyous debate.  Often the owner will select the pet’s physical appearance, characteristic traits, native origin or simply his/her favorite gender name.  Some humans put more thought in the process, incorporating one of their own habits into the salutation.  This is the case for husband and wife museum curators and writing team Ron and Janet Benrey.  Featured in their stories are two British shorthair cats Lapsang and Souchong.  Their fur is a smoky gray; these types of teas have a smoky flavour.  Their Shiba Inu, an ancient Japanese canine breed, is named Cha-Cha; cha is referred to as tea in many parts of the world.  And, of course their African Gray Parrot is called Earl.

Mixing up form and function is a balancing act for most ceramic artists.  However, this is what motivates Sam Chung to create teapots.  If that is not challenging enough, Sam thrives on which role each pot shall play.  Chung believes he must decide if it should be historical, tactile, decorative or ergonomically physical. These balance and role decisions are what he refers to as grappling.  Which role did Sam portray with this pot?

Margaret Bohls, curator for “Teapots:  Function, Formal, Narrative” has written an article to ceramic artists.  The purpose was to share with them the reasons for creating that magnificent object referred to as the teapot.  She writes:

 The teapot is, arguably, the most visually and culturally loaded pottery form. Trade, fashion, social class, nationalism, and industry, have all contributed to the layers of cultural and historical meaning inherent to this particular cultural artifact. Being at the same time an aesthetic object and a utilitarian object, the teapot also carries all of the potential and all of the contradictions inherent in the field of contemporary ceramics.  

 Margaret addresses the various avenues a ceramic artist can focus on when deciding how to design their teapots.  Besides functional these include:  the aesthetic challenge, the physical relationship to the body, the historical or story-telling perspective and that of decoration.   

After reading the article and with a cup of tea in hand I realized that I was looking at my teapot collection so to gain a greater insight from the artists designing the ones displayed on my shelves.  

The Andes and Catalina Mountains are as extraordinary as the ancient civilization surrounding them.   The steep parallel chain of crisp, tinted rich brown terrain, capped with bright white snow are what influences the ceramic style of Venezuelan artist José Sierra.  His teapot and mug designs express the lines and shapes of the landscapes; his collection of glazes coincides with the mountains’ colours.  Interestingly, Sierra’s pieces are associated with that of contemporary art.