p. 45 NICK REES ARTIST:Layout 1 8/2/10 17:12 Page 1
theWord on Somerset PROFILE |45
Portrait of the Artist
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NI
OTTE
CKREES
R
ick Rees is one of the three chosen material, in this case stoneware
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‘Potters of Muchelney’. clay, achieved through the repetitive
A Master Potter of more than throwing of the Muchelney Pottery
35 years, he has worked for catalogue range which has been at the
much of his career alongside heart of my potting career. From this learnt
acclaimed potter John Leach, language comes the voice of my individual
since joining the Leach pottery in 1972 as work, a personal response, seeking to
an apprentice potter. express the poetry in the material. Throwing
is about a shape spinning on the wheel,
Nick's days are spent producing the hand- looking at the profile but also the volume
thrown Muchelney Pottery range of wood- – a contained space formed by the hand
fired stoneware kitchen pots. But parallel inside the pot. Hopefully a voice is found in
to this he has successfully established an the spirit of the pot that reflects the spirit of
individual style and developed his own the maker – a piece of the maker’s soul in
signed range of work where he explores a mass-produced, industrial world. It is this
surface detail, creating distinctive pieces humanity that a handmade pot can lay
which are sold through a number of bare; it is a product of the maker’s journey.’
galleries, including the John Leach Gallery
where there is a permanent selection 2009 saw Nick begin a new journey
of work available. Nick’s personal pieces exploring the possibilities of oxidised
showcase a subtle and refined approach firing in an electric kiln. This poses new
to shape and design, accentuated through challenges and will offer a new dimension
carving, fluting and experimentation with to his signed pieces. He also continues to
slips and glazes. This surface detail wood-fire his pots in the three-chambered
DON’TMISS:
combined with the uniqueness afforded climbing kiln at Muchelney Pottery. Nick is
PottersofMuchelneyExhibition
by the wood firing process, allows Nick a Fellow of the Craft Potters Association
TheJohnLeachGallery
to produce a range of work that is both and a Full Member of the Devon Guild of
4September-10November2010
distinctive and organic. Craftsmen.
With John Leach and Mark Melbourne,
‘I have always observed the discipline NickRees,MuchelneyPottery,Muchelney,
Nick will be showing a special selection
and routine of workshop production to nr.Langport,Somerset.01458250324,
of pieces in this exhibition dedicated to
be about discovering the language of the www.nickreespotter.co.uk
the ‘Potters of Muchelney’.
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