Vase 1895 - 1921

This vase, made by William J. Walley, it's just such a trip into process. The way the colors melt and run, it’s like he’s letting the glaze do its own thing. Looking closely, you can really feel the pull of gravity in those drips. See how the green bleeds into the dark brown? It’s not just color, it’s texture, it’s a whole story of how the piece was fired. There's a kind of controlled chaos that reminds me of Helen Frankenthaler, where the paint soaks into the canvas. I like to think of it like a collaboration between the artist and the kiln. You know, you set the stage, but then you let the fire have its say. This vase feels like a conversation, like a dialogue about letting go and trusting the process. It's about embracing those happy accidents, those drips and runs that give the piece its soul.