BOB GREEN

I have been a potter for over thirty years, and prior to studying ceramics I earned an undergraduate degree in sculpture. I believe this has led me to make the pots I make. The shape of the pot comes first for me rather than the func- tion. My work is burnished with a smooth stone to seal the porcelain surface. The polished pots are then fired in a clay container or saggar with wood, salt and cop- per carbonate. I have also been influenced by ceramic art history and the surface treatment of my pots is derived from early Greek and Roman pots of the 4th and 5th century B.C., as well as Native American pottery of the southwest; both cultures employed the technique of burnishing the surface of the pottery and firing the work with wood as a source of fuel rather than the use of a glaze. The shapes of my pots are drawn from nature as well as the human form. And the small openings of my porcelain vessels are an acknowledgement to Native American “Seed Pots.” These containers were used to store seeds for planting and the small openings deterred pests from stealing the valuable content. I also find that the way I fire my work provides me with a magical and serendipitous aspect, which I find exciting.