My choice for Turning of the Week beginning Monday, October 9, 2023 is "Chock Full of Nuggets" by David Bartell.
David has succeeded in the challenging task of producing a body of work that is instantly recognizable as his own. His signature vessels are made in the Southwestern style, and often incorporate basket illusion techniques, paint/ink/dye, mixed media (in particular turquoise), and Mesquite wood. David's work is accomplished with mastery, and his finishes are well-executed and appropriate for each surface treatment. Above everything else David's forms are stellar and can be characterized by continuous flowing curves, crisp transitions, and proportions that allude to traditional Southwestern ceramic and woven vessels.
I have been privileged to view many of David's pieces on another online forum, and am happy to see that he started recently posting his work on the AAW forum. Of the four pieces David has shared, this one is my favorite. Overall, it exemplifies the variety of techniques that he employs in his work. The maroon and black colors work well together, and the turquoise nuggets are fascinating. I encourage everyone to zoom into the photo to better view the variation in shape and color of each piece of stone. I also appreciate that David left some of the cracks open, as it emphasizes the gnarled character typical of Mesquite. That said, the turquoise inlay in the larger cracks works very well. David also does a nice job of continuing the design into the upper interior of the vase, a feature that adds so much to the overall effect. His transitions between the body, neck, and lip are tastefully done, and offer a lot of great contrast between the added colors and the natural beauty of the wood. I would also be remiss if I didn't compliment the grain orientation of the piece--the hint of sapwood and the grain pattern that mimics the overall shape is top notch.
A note about the form itself: usually I would prefer a shorter neck, but in this case the design works very well. In my understanding this form is typical of Pueblo vessels that were intended to store food or liquid, the wide elongated neck allowing easy access and facilitating easy pouring. Interestingly, some vessels of this form were used to irrigate crops (see olla style vase). They would be buried and made of porous clay, so that when filled with water it would slowly seep into the surrounding soil. I can imagine the elongated neck was a practical feature for this usage as well. This post motivated me to read more about Southwestern pottery styles, and for that I am thankful.
For all of the above reasons, it is my pleasure to choose @David Bartell's vessel for this week's featured turning. Congratulations!
David has succeeded in the challenging task of producing a body of work that is instantly recognizable as his own. His signature vessels are made in the Southwestern style, and often incorporate basket illusion techniques, paint/ink/dye, mixed media (in particular turquoise), and Mesquite wood. David's work is accomplished with mastery, and his finishes are well-executed and appropriate for each surface treatment. Above everything else David's forms are stellar and can be characterized by continuous flowing curves, crisp transitions, and proportions that allude to traditional Southwestern ceramic and woven vessels.
I have been privileged to view many of David's pieces on another online forum, and am happy to see that he started recently posting his work on the AAW forum. Of the four pieces David has shared, this one is my favorite. Overall, it exemplifies the variety of techniques that he employs in his work. The maroon and black colors work well together, and the turquoise nuggets are fascinating. I encourage everyone to zoom into the photo to better view the variation in shape and color of each piece of stone. I also appreciate that David left some of the cracks open, as it emphasizes the gnarled character typical of Mesquite. That said, the turquoise inlay in the larger cracks works very well. David also does a nice job of continuing the design into the upper interior of the vase, a feature that adds so much to the overall effect. His transitions between the body, neck, and lip are tastefully done, and offer a lot of great contrast between the added colors and the natural beauty of the wood. I would also be remiss if I didn't compliment the grain orientation of the piece--the hint of sapwood and the grain pattern that mimics the overall shape is top notch.
A note about the form itself: usually I would prefer a shorter neck, but in this case the design works very well. In my understanding this form is typical of Pueblo vessels that were intended to store food or liquid, the wide elongated neck allowing easy access and facilitating easy pouring. Interestingly, some vessels of this form were used to irrigate crops (see olla style vase). They would be buried and made of porous clay, so that when filled with water it would slowly seep into the surrounding soil. I can imagine the elongated neck was a practical feature for this usage as well. This post motivated me to read more about Southwestern pottery styles, and for that I am thankful.
For all of the above reasons, it is my pleasure to choose @David Bartell's vessel for this week's featured turning. Congratulations!
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