ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I try to create art that fosters the same peace of mind and sense of well being I find when gazing at the starry night sky. That's why most of my pots feature accurate constellations.
I build all of my work with a fine-grained local white clay, carving designs into the leather-hard surface as it dries. Pine needles gathered in the nearby mountains fuel the raku firings and infuse the clay with a smoked, natural look. Then, I hand paint the final surface, and create a title. Each ceramic piece comes with a description of the process.
I've always thought of spinning on a potters wheel as an apt metaphor for life. Things go so much better if you start out properly centered.
ARTIST BIO
Born and raised in California, Joan Govedare moved to Whidbey Island, Washington in 1990. Her 36 years of pottery experience were inspired by such early experiences as watching Paul Soldner demonstrate raku firings at Scripps College in the early 1960's.
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
Galleries, Current and Past:
Gaskill/Olson Gallery, Langley, WA; Kimzey/Miller Gallery, Seattle, WA;
Potlatch Gallery, Poulsbo, WA; Earth Mercantile, Portland, OR;
Ricciardi Gallery, Astoria, OR; Opus 5 Gallery, Eugene, OR;
The High Desert Museum, Bend, OR; The Whistler Village Art Gallery,
Whistler BC; Justus of Steamboat, Steamboat Springs, CO;
Elizabeth Fortner Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA.
Exhibitions and Arts & Crafts Shows:
Gaskill/Olson Gallery, two person shows, over 10 years.
Kimzey/Miller Gallery, two person show, 1997.
Pacific Northwest Art and Crafts Fair, Bellevue, Washington, 10 years.
Art in the Pearl and Artquake, Portland, Oregon.
(Featured artist on 2006 KCTS public television series, Joan's Documentary is titled "An Offering to the Stars" (DVD and VHS tapes are available at $25)
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