Over the last decade the narrowing of the gulf that traditionally
existed between the realms of fine art and craft has resulted in a shift
in perception of what ceramics can be and can mean. All areas of ceramic
practice have been revitalized as a result--the creative possibilities
that artists, lured by the plastic and tactile qualities of clay, have
brought with them into ceramics have influenced ceramists of all
backgrounds.
Analyzing work from the last ten years, this book covers every aspect of
contemporary ceramic practice and includes work of all sizes--from a few
inches to large-scale installations. It is organized
into five main chapters:
- Beyond Utility: original yet functional ceramics
- Defining Space: wheel-thrown shapes, slip-cast forms, and
hand-built structures
- Mind the Gap: sculptural work from precise and mechanical to
freely modeled forms
- A Sense of Space: installations, both site-specific and
environmental
- The Line of Beauty: collaborations between art and industry that
result from advances in technology
Contemporary Ceramics also includes biographies of the featured
ceramists and a directory of museums and galleries.