About The Artist
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Wayne Kilburn
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Biography
I was born and raised in Washington State. My childhood was spent in the tiny costal resort town of Ocean Shores where I passed countless hours combing the beaches, fishing and hunting.
I first fell in love with making pots in my high school art classes. I enjoyed the challenge of creating something beautiful from a lump of clay. Graduating from North Beach High School in 1983 began my 20-year hiatus from clay. During that time, I received my AA degree from Wenatchee Valley Community College (1986), earned my BA in Graphic Design from Central Washington University (1988), began a career as a graphic designer, and started a family.
Then one day my wife came across a potter's wheel and kiln that were being discarded. She knew how much I missed working with clay, so she gave them to me as a gift. The wheel creaked and squeaked, and the kiln heated up but needed a lot of repairs. After a fair amount of work, I was able to make both usable. I still use them to create my line of unique primitive-fired pottery.
Statement
I create primitive-fired decorative pottery. Each piece is formed by hand using either a potter’s wheel or by shaping hand-rolled slabs of clay. I incorporate locally harvested materials such as leaves, waste wood, and in keeping with the spirit of the Northwest - used coffee grounds. The pots receive their distinctive coloring from the heat, smoke and flames of a bonfire. Because of the uncontrollable nature of the firing process, each piece is a unique creation that can never be duplicated.
My work has a rustic look and feel, inspired by the environment of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. As a life-long resident of Washington, I have spent countless hours on the beaches, trails and waters of this gorgeous state. As you might imagine, all of this time spent outdoors has influenced how I approach my art. I seek to interpret my surroundings through my pottery. Not only do I use materials that I collect from around the region, but I also draw inspiration from the forms I see in the environment around me. The swelling arc of an ocean wave, the strong lines of a cedar tree, the graceful curve of a heron’s neck - these are all forms that are echoed in my work.
I seek to exploit contrast in my work. Light and dark colors; delicate fossil images and crackling textures; refined forms and primitive, flame painted surfaces - these are contradictions that I seek to incorporate into each piece. These opposites create tension, beauty and balance.
I hope you enjoy viewing my work. Most of all, I hope that it helps you to see the everyday beauty that surrounds us.
Please note: these pots are NOT food safe. They are intended for decorative use only.
Artist History
Recent Exhibitions:
January 20 - February 16, 2007: Arty Gras, Art Merchant International Gallery, Monroe, Washington.
Selected works from my Clay, Copper & Coffee series are on display in this juried show.
January 5 - February 8, 2007: Lynnwood Public Library Gallery, Lynnwood, Washington. Selected works from my Clay, Copper & Coffee series, Surf Vases series and Northwest Impressions series are on display.
January 8 - February 28, 2007: Small Works, Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council Gallery, Shoreline, Washington. Boxes and small vases from my Northwest Impressions series will accompany the “Prints and Parts” show for January and February.
November 3 - December 29, 2006: Solovei Art Gallery, Everett, Washington. Group show featuring selected works from my Northwest Impressions series.
October 19 - 21, 2006: Discovered and Undiscovered Potters Show, Pickering Barn, Issaquah, Washington. Selected pieces from my Northwest Impressions, Surf Vases and Clay, Copper & Coffee series were included.
October 7 - 29, 2006: Third Annual Juried Art Show, Arts of Snohomish Gallery, Snohomish, Washington. Juried show of 59 pieces by 43 artists. Works on display ranged from 3D mixed media to traditional paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, glass, cyber art, fiber, and more. A dogwood vase from my Clay, Copper & Coffee series appeared in this show.
September 7 - October 26, 2006: Contain It, Arts Council of Snohomish County Gallery, Everett, Washington. Group invitational exhibit featuring unique handcrafted boxes and containers. Six of my pieces appeared in this show.
Signed up on 02/03/2007
Category: 3 Dimensional
