The Artist
During the past 35 years, Dan has continually designed and produced new ceramic work and has had numerous one-person and group exhibits. He developed an inner-city community craft studio in Worcester, MA where he was director of year-round neighborhood arts education programming. In Boston, he directed arts educational programs for people with disabilities for many years, and helped write the state’s Arts Education Curriculum Frameworks. His studio was at MA College of Art, then at Mudflat Studio, a cooperative school, studio, and gallery. He was director of ceramics at Project Art Center in Cambridge, where he taught pottery and glazing techniques. In Newton, MA, he realized his dream of owning and operating Wienerware Pottery, a studio he can share with family, friends, and the community.
His current work... reflects an interest in expressive surface decoration. Dan's studio is filled with stamps, gears, nets, cut-outs, auto parts, kitchen tools, recyclables, and other found objects used to impress designs into the clay. He stamps and rolls textured materials onto clay slabs to create "abstract landscapes" which are draped over forms and allowed to stiffen. Pieces are glazed and fired to Cone 6 (2232 degrees F) in an electric oxidation kiln. All pieces are lead-free, waterproof, and safe to use with food.
“It can be fascinating to show off the fluidity and plasticity of clay by creating surface designs and alterations, then "freezing" those effects as the clay dries. My pieces exploit the paradox of fired clay that appears soft, wet, and flexible. Each piece is great fun to make -- an experiment that incorporates a unique combination of materials, methods, and serendipity in its creation.”