Larry Halvorsen Ceramic rattles

ARTIST STATEMENT Ancient stone tools, ritual objects, architecture and forms from nature are the inspirations for my sculptures and sculptural vessels. I am attempting to carve out my place as a contemporary object maker. My recent focus has been work for the wall, including grouping and individual pieces and the introduction of a gloss rather than matt surface. In my view this is the transition from lava to obsidian. I use stoneware clay, a traditional craft material. The pieces are constructed using a combination of hand-building techniques. All the pieces are coated with glaze and carved into, a technique call sgraffito. The carving is a result of a lifelong exploration of line and pattern.Larry Halvorsen is a self-taught potter with almost 30 years experience working with clay. Combining his interests in primitive art, ancient tools, natural forms and lifelong love of pattern, he creates an ever-evolving body of work.