Simon van der Ven

Jesse Gillespie, Kate Fraser, and John Warner are among my former students out there making art. All have great websites for us to see.
I know there are many more of you. Please make contact and let me know if you’d like to be added to a list of websites I plan to post on my “about” page. This is the deal: if you add a link to me in your website, I’ll post yours!
I look forward to hearing from you.

V (Siem)

The marvelous people at Åarhus saw fit to offer me the entire floor for all of July. They brilliantly paired me with Susan Metzger. Her paintings are gorgeous and I love the harmonies between our work. I am so pleased to have the opportunity to show with her.

The opening reception was Friday, July 1. Thank you to all who came and joined the fesitivities. Your enthusiasm and support felt so good.

The show includes lots of new work. I managed to photograph most of it before taking it to Belfast. I am currently processing the images and will get them up on the website as soon as I can.

Other upcoming shows include:

Lake Hebron Artisans TEAPOT II, Monson, Maine, July 1 — 31
Maine Crafts Guild’s 36th ANNUAL MDI DIRECTIONS SHOW, Mount Desert Island, July 29 — 31
FIRE, ASH, SMOKE, AND SALT at Craft Gallery, Rockland, August 5 — Sept. 3
ISLESBORO INVITATIONAL GROUP SHOW at the Historical Society, Islesboro, August 5 — 10
COUNTRY ROADS ARTISTS & ARTISANS TOUR, Lincolnville, Sept. 9 — 11
CMCA’s WORK OF THE HAND, Rockport, October 6 — 10

I’ve put together a rather nice little catalogue of Kate’s Aunt Lilias’ ceramic collection. It’s a gorgeous grouping of significant work with an interesting history. Most of the pieces are by Hamada Shoji. There are some Bernard and David Leach pots as well as some fascinating unidentified pieces. You can preview and buy the book at Blurb.com. There’s large version and a small version. Let me know what you think.

I am very happy to announce that I have been awarded a residency at Anderson Ranch in Snowmasse Village, CO. It’s a ten week program. I begin, along with thirteen other residents, February 1, 2012. I consider this a huge honor. I am so psyched.

The best teaching (learning) seldom ends with explanation. It is the offering of discovery, the bringing to a threshold that matters most.

An electronic version of the Ceramics Monthly article has been posted on the Ceramics Daily website. Go to “http://ceramicartsdaily.org/ceramic-art-and-artists/studio-visit-simon-van-der-ven/“>to take a look. Let me know what you think.

Check out the article in the October issue Ceramics Monthly. I’m the subject of the Studio Visit feature pages 32-34. I realize this magazine might not be on everyone’s coffee table, but if you’re a potter, gallery owner, or collector maybe you’ll see it. If you do, let me know what you think.

I like the following quote. It reminds me that I have to meet the clay with the strength to be still and patient.

Be soft in your practice. Think of the method as a fine silvery stream, not a raging waterfall. Follow the stream, have faith in its course. It will go its own way, meandering here, trickling there. It will find the grooves, the cracks, the crevices. Just follow it. Never let it out of your sight. It will take you.

Sheng-yen
(b. 1931)

I was talking with a good friend a couple weeks ago. We got into some of the difficulties of being an artist. At one point she said, “People just don’t see.” I knew why she said it, but I disagreed with her.  I thought it more accurate to say that people tend to look through lenses, and those lenses are often scratched, cloudy, or distorted – if not layered one on top of another. I said I consider it my job, as artist, as teacher, to help people remove those lenses.