Michael Wisner
BIOGRAPHY
Michael Wisner shows and teaches nationally. After apprenticing with Jaun Quezada in the village of Mata Ortiz, he has taken the traditional forms and ideas and now makes beautiful modern and contemporary work based on the traditions. He writes, “Inspired by ancient Anasazi and Mimbres potsherds, I began making southwestern pottery. I dig local clays, in the mountains outside my studio at the Anderson Ranch in Colorado. The clay is filtered to remove rocks and debris and then hand coiled to form each piece. The pottery is then painted with a human hair brush and fired outdoors in an open bonfire. Each pot is a one-of-a-kind hand crafted work of art.
Over the past 16 years I have studied extensively with Potters of the American Indian Pueblos and Mata Ortiz Mexico. In 1989 I began an apprenticeship with Juan Quezada that continues today. Each year I spend three to four months working in Juan's village. Juan's artistic genius has been a constant source of inspiration. As Juan watches my art evolve he encourages me to develop this pottery into a contemporary form.”
artist statement
I look at the creative process as a collaboration between nature and the artist where both have a voice in the process. For me it's a celebration of our contact with the natural world. Beautiful places inspire us and stirs creativity to the surface.
My work takes something old and mixes it with something new. For many years I studied under the late Juan Quezada recipient of Mexicos highest award "Bellas Artes". Juan taught me traditional pottery skills literally from the ground up. His rigorous standard of craftsmanship challenged me to develop my ceramic skills to a level I did not know possible. Juan's passion to create was contagious. I worked for years under his tutilage while simultaneously working as a resident artist at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado where I was exposed to many contemporary ideas. Straddling both worlds of traditional and contemporary ceramics helped me to incorporate elements from both. Today I use Juan's old clay technology rich with clay colors that are only possible by making them yourself with clay found in the mountains of Colorado. I mix old and new hand building techniques to make forms I feel are sensual, curvy even feminine. Over these surfaces I press contemporary patterns. The patterns are borne from natures pinecones , seed pods and rythmic patterns seen in ocean waves. This union of something old and something new hopefully brings the viewer the comfort of known elements and adds a novel twist that tickles the senses. I hope you enjoy this work.
PAST EXHIBITS
