October's Guest Artist
Even though the seed for ceramic artist David Webster's
interest in creating pottery was planted when he was in high school,
he acknowledges the influence of artists as far away as Germany in
post World War II. In particular, he points to Germany's Bauhaus
School of Art that became famous between 1919 and 1933 for its
efforts to combine crafts and fine arts.
 |
| David Webster. ceramic artist |
That
Bauhaus influence will be seen in the utilitarian pottery Webster
will have on exhibit as Gallery 54's guest artist for October. The
opening of this exhibit will be the featured event for October's
“First Friday in Skaneateles” from 5 to 8 pm at the gallery.
Webster will be on hand to talk with guests and explore how he
creates his utilitarian pottery.
“I
didn't actually study pottery in high school,” recalls Webster,
“yet it was what kept me in school. The pottery class teacher
would let me come into the lab after school and I was immediately
infatuated with the potter's wheel. There has always been something
about the turning wheel, using your hands to put pressure on the clay
and then watching as shapes were molded that captivated my interest,”
he says adding, “That's never changed for me.”
Following
high school he pursued an education in the study of ceramics at
Alfred University in Southwestern New York State. Here he appreciated
the opportunity to study what he recalls as one of the gurus in the
study of ceramics, the late Val Cushing.
In
the years since Webster has experienced the broad expanse of options
surrounding the art and craft of ceramics. Even as he experienced and
experimented with the reactions of different glazes on varying
surfaces, he was enjoying a wide variety of opportunities within the
ceramics community. Aways attracted to the utility he could bring to
his pieces, early in his career he worked to create a following
through his participation in arts and craft shows. Eventually, he
responded to the demands of the wholesale market. Ultimately, he
found his passion to create artful ceramic, though still utilitarian,
pieces led him back to where his interest began . . . the classroom.
Still
answering the question, “what's its use?” Webster accepted an
invitation to share his knowledge and skill in the classroom at
Onondaga Community College. It was an invitation that would challenge
and captivate him for 15 years as he taught ceramics, basic design
skills, and sculpture as a member of the college faculty.
Eventually,
Webster went back to high school, though this time solidly in the
classroom as a ceramics teacher at Fayetteville/Manlius High School
where he teaches beginning and advanced ceramics and sculpture today.
In
addition to a collection of his pottery, the opening show will
feature light refreshments and wine, along with music by guitarist,
singer and songwriter Jane Zell.
Gallery
54 is an artist-owned gallery of fine art and crafts. It's open
Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. To 5 p.m. As well as Friday and
Saturday from 10 a.m. To 6 p.m.
