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Artist

Deborah Maxwell

 

Pottery / Ceramic Art

altered vase

slab vase

bowl

Biography

At age three, Deborah's mom gave her a box of 64 crayons, and she was hooked on art. Paints, markers and art lessons followed and led her to the St. Clair County Community College Art Program and a BFA from Kendall College of Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Deborah has also taught classes at Studio1219 and in her own studio, Red Mudd. Deborah's inspiration for her unique pit-fired work comes from her effort to meld the freedom of flight with the constraint of containment in a single piece. Through simple shapes and architectural designs, she pursues these interests in the abstract sense by exploring chemical reactions to the shape and firing of wheel-thrown and hand-built pieces. Use of such unusual household items such as dry dog food, salt and sugar during firing, helps her create luminous colors on her unglazed pieces. Deborah's goal is to have her bowls and vessels "go to good homes and to be enjoyed by their owners." Her work offers a "please touch me" invitation of sorts for its textural highlights. One of Deborah's pieces, in particular, went to a good home: the governor's. In July, Governor Jennifer Granholm selected a pit-fired vase made by Deborah for installment in her residence. You may see more samples of Deborah's work at: www.redmuddstudio.com

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