In his studio surrounded by the snow-clad Wisconsin countryside Randy Johnston reminisces whilst turning foot-rings on yunomi. He contemplates the long-lived aspect of a ceramic object; transcending generations and reaching across time and space. Johnston remembers anecdotes told by Warren MacKenzie about the beginnings of his apprenticeship with Bernard Leach and the 1953 tour of the US by Leach and Hamada and it’s impact upon American ceramics.
Series: Inspire Me | Randy Johnston
Inspire Me | Randy Johnston | The Sprituality of Clay
Randy Johnston turns footrings on yunomi in his Wisconsin studio and explains his preference for the manual wheel. He considers the notion of “the memory of clay” and it’s receptivity as a material for emotional expression while appreciating the Japanese learned casualness in Shimaoka’s throwing technique.
Inspire Me | Randy Johnston | Early Inspiration
American potter Randy Johnston turning foot rings on a batch of yunomi muses on the power of pots to promote conversation and evoke memories. He recalls how fate conspired to bring him under the tutelage of the great Warren MacKenzie and reflects upon his Japanese apprenticeship and the myriad of influences that have affected his approach to line and form.