Frank came to the Art
Center in 2003, visiting during our "Ceram-A-Rama" event and told us
that he had once been a production potter, lost his business during the
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and hadn't been back to clay since.
He felt the call. He was drawn. And we gave him the space to
work, to teach, to inspire.
At
the time, we were reinvigorating our ceramics facility, and Frank was
more than instrumental in making this happen. He quietly helped
raise the level of ceramics professionalism at the Center, helping
create a wonderful workspace for clay. His last endeavor finalized in
the successful construction and firing of our Soda Kiln.
As
an instructor, he started teaching a course called "Finishing Touches",
bringing to his students his myriad of potter's tips and tricks on how
to approach your work keeping in mind how it would look and be used in a
finished state. He called his approach a blend of "East meets
West", the "simple English Country Potter" merged with the "Zen Potter".
He
also provided inspiration and solid fundamentals to monthly sessions in
our handbuilding classes.
Frank presided over
our Ceram-A-Rama events, organizing, directing, and emceeing, creating a
spirit of sharing, excitement and collaboration in clay.
On the artistic
level, Frank's mastery in clay produced museum quality work. His
sense of esthetics prevailed in all his work...a sense of quiet, Zen
meditation, while enjoying the beauty of each piece. His sense of
humor came out through his whimsical creations of his "jug"
people...forms created from small wheel-thrown pitchers, alive with arms
and feet, involved in various activities.
Frank quietly
touched all our hearts - he will be sorely missed. His spirit
lives on at the Art Center.
