Paul Terrell

Indeterminacy

Naked Raku Fired Ceramic

21.25 x 18.5 x 3.5"

$400

“Indeterminacy” is my homage to John Cage who used the term for his approach to composing, which left some aspects of a musical work open to chance. This piece was created by making a cast from a piece of cherry cut lengthwise with a chainsaw leaving random saw marks. The final Naked Raku firing produced random carbon marks on the pressed slab construction.

Artist's Statement:

My interest in Raku fired ceramics is connected to the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi. The art of finding beauty in imperfection and wisdom in nature; “Nothing is perfect, Nothing is complete, Nothing is permanent.” I embrace the serendipity of Raku fired ceramics. Surface, form, and process are a poetic ritual. My exploration of “Naked Raku” has all of the final slips and glazes break away like a broken egg shell. The results are the contrasting drawings defined by the rhythms of smoke. I often use wood in some part of my process and often incorporate it for contrast and a Zen like focal point.