Made in California: Ceramics for all tastes and budgets
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L.A. at Home’s suggestions for handmade gifts by local artisans swing to the world of ceramics:
Highland Park artist Jocelyn Webb Pedersen finishes her pinch pots with a variety of Japanese glazes. The pieces don’t just look great. “You can often feel the work of my hands when you hold them in your hands,” she says. “They have been used for hors d’oeuvres dishes, jewelry holders, planters and candle holders.” We picked up the one above, left, for just $20 and plopped a cheap Home Depot succulent inside. Voila -- instant awesomeness. Pedersen’s pieces are $15 to $45 each. Till her page is set up on the Etsy crafts website, e-mail the artist at joce@earthlink.net.
Joan Takayama-Ogawa, a professor at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, shapes ceramic platters to mirror the forms and patterns of nature. Above, center, a 17-inch glazed earthenware piece -- stunning in black -- is $275 through Shibui Designs.
Artist Hannie Goldgewicht combines pine-needle basketry and ceramics to create distinctive bowls, vases and urns. We admired the bud vase at right, wrapped with her carefully tied needle design. It’s $80. Available at Mindfulnest.
More local ceramics artists after the jump ...
Santa Monica mom Jeana Greulach launched J Clay Pottery this year as a creative outlet after the birth of two daughters. Her work landed in Zero Minus Plus at Fred Segal, but you can buy her new collection directly from Greulach via her Etsy shop online. Serve Yourself, Serve Others is her line of wheel-thrown stoneware that’s glazed on top and inscribed on bottom. Most bowls run $25 to $30 apiece, and serving dishes and bowls are $75 to $85. The collection is beautiful, and functional, and safe in the oven and microwave.
JoAnn Patterson has started making large-scale sculptures that have found their way into the homes of Kanye West and Saudi royalty, but she also carves beautiful earthenware vases, above center, whose faceted facades lend a contemporary touch to an ancient form. The vases ($80 and up) are sold at the Altered Space Gallery in Venice, (310) 452-8121; you can see more of her work at www.clayandwood.com.
The high-fired stoneware of local artist Sunja Park is showcased at the Silver Lake store Ten 10 right now. Swing by and you’ll see beautiful pottery and -- the surprise for us -- some unusual glazed ceramic clocks ($125 to $175).
-- L.A. at Home staff
Photo credits: Jocelyn Webb Pederson: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times; Joan Takayama-Ogawa: Shibui Designs; Hannie Goldgewicht: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times; Jeana Greulach: Jeana Greulach; JoAnn Patterson: Clay and Wood; Sunja Park: Ten 10