Teapot - "Mt. Vernon" c. 1936

This "Mt. Vernon" teapot by Helmut Hiatt is a little world unto itself. I imagine Hiatt turning the pot in their hands, carefully painting a landscape scene, probably more than once, until it sat just so. It’s like a conversation between the artist and the object, each responding to the other's curves and planes. Those delicate flowers, framing the lid with a touch of whimsy, are like soft, whispered notes. Then you've got the stark architecture with horse and rider, so it's like someone dreaming of history. Hiatt is building on the tradition of ceramics, but also adding a modern, personal twist. There’s a dialogue happening, across time and between makers. Painting is all about that, really – one big, messy, beautiful conversation.