Nate Nixdorf Pottery
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Artist Statement
December, 2012

The functional object is an intimate one. From day to day, objects are used to prepare, serve and hold the food and drink that we need and enjoy. Most objects go unnoticed, and it’s for that reason that I make objects meant for everyday use. On a normal day, someone’s coffee mug could be handled tens or hundreds of times, mindlessly, and without consideration for the vessel. While the senses of taste and smell are stimulated with the consumption of a good cup of coffee, the straight, commercially made, white mug offers nothing more. I would like to believe that the tactile response of handling one of my pieces, combined with the gentle aesthetics that my pieces offer, enhances the experience of consumption.

The inspiration for my pieces comes from my sense of touch. While touching, holding and feeling everything around me, I attempt to discover new and interesting sensations. Combining these sensations with my love for classic shapes and forms give me my vocabulary in which to make my shapes. The names of ceramic artists who manipulate shape are countless, and each have an influence on the way I create my shapes.  From Asian tea bowls held with two hands, to modern travel mugs with unusual contours and edges, my investigation into touch never ends.

Food is celebrated in every culture around the world. Regardless of the culture or type of food, a vessel is there to accompany it. We surround ourselves with these necessary objects, and they provide the perfect opportunity to have an aesthetic experience. It is through my pieces that I hope to create extraordinary experiences through these ordinary objects.    
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Pottery
    • Drinking Vessels
    • Dinnerware
    • Vases
    • Misc.
  • Contact
  • CV
  • Art Education
    • Profile
    • Bio Narrative
    • Artist Statement
    • Critical Action Plan
    • Timeline
    • Capstone Project - Dreaming of Fire