Robin Hopper’s Functional Pottery: Form and Aesthetic in Pots of Purpose (2011) reads at first like a how‑to manual, but under the guise of practical instruction lies a quietly profound meditation on the very nature of utility, beauty, and the relationship between maker, object, and user. Hopper—a potter whose career spanned continents and whose teaching influenced generations of … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Functional Pottery: Form and Aesthetic in Pots of Purpose by Robin Hopper
The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Robbin Hopper Ceramics: A Lifetime of Works, Ideas and Teachings by Robin Hopper
Robin Hopper’s memoir-cum-manual stands as a singular achievement in contemporary ceramics literature, marrying the reflective tone of autobiography with the precision of a practical studio guide. From the first chapter, Hopper situates his personal narrative within the broader arc of postwar craft movements, offering a nuanced perspective on how the tides of modernism, folk traditions, … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Robbin Hopper Ceramics: A Lifetime of Works, Ideas and Teachings by Robin Hopper
The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – 500 Raku: Bold Explorations of a Dynamic Ceramics Technique, Edited by Ray Hemachandra
Ray Hemachandra’s 500 Raku: Bold Explorations of a Dynamic Ceramics Technique is more than a visual catalogue—it is a philosophical document. As part of the “500 Series” published by Lark Books, this volume continues the series’ tradition of curatorial excellence, presenting a collection of works that not only celebrate a specific craft but also probe the limits … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – 500 Raku: Bold Explorations of a Dynamic Ceramics Technique, Edited by Ray Hemachandra
The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – 500 Vases: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Form by Ray Hemachandra
Ray Hemachandra’s 500 Vases: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Form situates the humble vase at the intersection of functional craft and high art. By juxtaposing a broad array of contemporary practitioners—from established maestros to emerging voices—Hemachandra underscores the vase’s enduring capacity to inspire innovation. As a reference work, it collects photographic documentation of five hundred distinct forms … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – 500 Vases: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Form by Ray Hemachandra
The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Craft Perception and Practice: A Canadian Discourse, Vol. 2, edited by Paula Gustafson
Craft Perception and Practice: A Canadian Discourse, Vol. 2, edited by Paula Gustafson, represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of Canadian craft scholarship. Published by Ronsdale Press in 2005, this volume collects twenty-two essays and critical commentaries by nineteen independent critics, curators, professional artists, art historians, and studio art instructors. By bringing together voices … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Craft Perception and Practice: A Canadian Discourse, Vol. 2, edited by Paula Gustafson
The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Craft Perception and Practice: A Canadian Discourse, Vol. 1, edited by Paula Gustafson
Paula Gustafson’s Craft Perception and Practice: A Canadian Discourse, Vol. 1 is an ambitious, multifaceted exploration that positions Canadian craft not merely as an artisanal pursuit but as a site of critical inquiry and cultural negotiation. Gustafson—long known for her incisive editorial work in Artichoke magazine—assembles a slate of voices that interrogate craft’s epistemological foundations, its links … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Craft Perception and Practice: A Canadian Discourse, Vol. 1, edited by Paula Gustafson
The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – 500 Figures in Clay: Ceramic Artists Celebrate the Human Form,” edited by Veronika Alice Gunter
“500 Figures in Clay: Ceramic Artists Celebrate the Human Form,” edited by Veronika Alice Gunter, is an ambitious compendium that seeks to investigate one of the most enduring subjects in art— the human figure—through the tactile and revelatory medium of clay. In assembling the work of five hundred contemporary ceramicists from around the world, Gunter … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – 500 Figures in Clay: Ceramic Artists Celebrate the Human Form,” edited by Veronika Alice Gunter
Book Review – Scandinavian Ceramics and Glass: 1940s to 1980s by George Fischler
George Fischler’s Scandinavian Ceramics and Glass: 1940s to 1980s is a meticulous exploration of the evolving aesthetics, technical innovations, and cultural significance of mid-20th-century Scandinavian ceramics and glass design. More than a catalog of beautiful objects, the book situates these artistic movements within the broader sociopolitical context of postwar Scandinavia, illuminating how these everyday objects became vessels … Continue reading Book Review – Scandinavian Ceramics and Glass: 1940s to 1980s by George Fischler
The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Ceramics of the Islamic World by Géza Fehérvári
Géza Fehérvári’s Ceramics of the Islamic World is an exquisite and meticulously researched exploration of one of the most significant artistic traditions in Islamic culture. As both an art historian and a scholar of Islamic material culture, Fehérvári offers a study that is as visually rich as it is intellectually rigorous, providing an indispensable reference for scholars, … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Ceramics of the Islamic World by Géza Fehérvári
The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Contemporary Clay: Japanese Ceramics for the New Century by Joe Earle
Joe Earle’s Contemporary Clay: Japanese Ceramics for the New Century offers a masterful exploration of Japanese ceramic art, presenting a profound dialogue between tradition and innovation in a form that is both scholarly and visually stunning. Earle, a preeminent curator and authority on Japanese art, navigates the complex terrain of contemporary Japanese ceramics with a nuanced appreciation … Continue reading The Adaptable Educator’s Book Review – Contemporary Clay: Japanese Ceramics for the New Century by Joe Earle
The New Renaissance Mindset 