Jill Kleinman
Decorative and Functional Ceramics
In my family, early on we were taught about the beauty and grace of working with our hands. Appreciating all things handmade, by age sixteen I was hooked on clay and have not quit. Today, I still find wheel throwing and hand-building processes totally compelling. I work with two different types of clay – porcelain and earthenware, going back and forth from one to the other, capitalizing on their respective attributes and differences. One offers more lasting strength, the other a wider color palate.
My training is rooted in functional work and limited production. Working in my studio, I typically begin by creating a small series of approximately ten works. In this fashion, I slowly come to understand the character of my clay idea and its rhythms, learning and observing. Everyday ware - mugs, bowls, pitchers and containers are truly esteemed in my world and always present. Each work provides an earnest desire to articulate form, balance and the comfort of everyday use. At the same time, I also cherish semi-functional work and creating ceramic sculpture. Each new series carries a seed from an earlier time in my ceramic history, now flowing into a new vision.
The mystery and connections between my past and present fuel my visual appetites. Inspirations from nature and everyday rituals also play a pivotal role. I am drawn to repetition in form and surface decoration. Repetition allows me to understand my visions more easily and offers me surface excitement. As an artist I strive to produce work that restores and nurtures. This represents my beauty in a an increasingly hectic world.
"Top 10 Fall Events in Vermont"
The Weston Craft Show was twice voted one of the "Top 10 Fall Events in Vermont" by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The Weston Playhouse provides a manageable, pleasant shopping experience for those looking for something special. With a carefully juried array of exceptional arts and crafts in a distinctive setting, the Weston Craft Show offers discerning art collectors high quality, diversity and beautiful displays.
