SUSAN C. MAGUIRE
Explore fascinations with clay
Inspired by ancient and contemporary Asian Art, the natural and, especially,
geological world in which we live,
I am a maker.
About maguirepottery
Biography
To artists who work in clay, earth is the spirit which rules all creation. Susan Maguire epitomizes this philosophy. Ms. Maguire's reverence for the material is paramount. Her desire to respect and emulate the creative forces of Gaia, Mother Earth herself, is paramount to the work she creates.
Like the legions of artists/craftspeople before her, Maguire is a conduit through which the material manifests itself. Her vessels allow the clay to peek out from within the glazes she uses, to remain an integral part of the experience almost as if the piece created itself out of the undulations of the planet.
Susan Maguire has lived and worked in South Florida virtually all her life. Her devotion to ceramics as her medium of expression has spanned many years as has her love of the indigenous horticulture of the tropics.
As a student of Japanese culture and tradition, Ms. Maguire's aesthetic reflects a tradition and respect for the utilitarian uses of pottery as well as its beauty. Her tea and sake cups, bottles, and other vessels and plates are part of the routine of everyday life. Every object, every plant, tree and rock in our lives becomes part of the celebration of our existence. Her creations are a part of this exuberance for living life for the moment.
Love of Materials
Maguire's work is spawned from the potter's wheel but her manipulation of the clay body is unique and unexpected. Often, the surfaces are gouged, tooled or burnt to become as natural as the day they were born of the earth. With respect for their origins, she has returned them to rough-hewn surfaces unlike those we usually associate with objects thrown on the wheel. The glazes and underglazes are as original and nuanced as Nature herself.
Artist Statement
Leonardo beat me to it!
About 500 years ago he penned my philosophy of pottery and my life: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. This is one of my favorite
quotes, and it's based on the idea that living and working ‘Simple’ isn’t banal, it’s Elegant.
It has taken me years to learn the technical complexity of working with clay and glazes, but it will take my lifetime to master simplicity.
Sculptural and Utilitarian
Ceramics crafted with a reverence for materials, form and sometimes function. Clay requires an inhehent love for that which produced our medium, Nature. Ethereal are the forms of nature and the artist emulates it. An appreciation for how we can incorporate these objects into our lives further honors the collaboration.