-C.D. Kenny Co. (pig)- still bank c. 20th century

This charming little piggy bank was created by an unknown artist. Its smooth form is decorated with a series of playful drips. The upper half of the pig is adorned with a streaky combination of blue and brown glazes, creating a marbled effect that makes me think of early abstract watercolors, or maybe even Gerhard Richter’s squeegee paintings. See how the glaze runs freely down the pig's back and sides? It’s like the artist just let go and let the colors do their thing, embracing chance and improvisation. The lower half is left a simple, cream color with 'C. D. Kenny Co.' printed on its side. The contrast between the controlled inscription and the loose, drippy glaze is wonderful. It's like a conversation between order and chaos, echoing the push and pull I often feel in my own work. Like a conversation between a ceramic work by Ken Price and the early ceramic works by Ron Nagle. It is a reminder that art is, at its heart, an ongoing experiment.