Pottery Jug c. 1940

Here's a pottery jug made by Gerald Scalise. I'm imagining Scalise in his studio, carefully building up the jug's form with delicate washes of brown and tan. You can almost feel the texture of the clay, smooth and cool to the touch. The subtle gradations of color give the jug a sense of volume and depth, as if it's emerging from the flat surface of the paper. I think he must have spent time looking at pottery before making the piece, considering how the light plays across its surface. You can see the influence of folk art traditions in the simplicity of the jug’s shape. There's a quietness to this work, a sense of reverence for the everyday object. And isn’t that what art is all about – finding the extraordinary in the ordinary? So next time you're doing the dishes, take a closer look at your pottery. Who knows what stories they might tell?