-Raymond- teapot 2003

Editor: So, this is -Raymond- teapot, created in 2003 by Alex G. Spaulding. It's made of ceramic and found objects, categorized as an assemblage sculpture. My first thought is how industrial it looks – like a miniature piece of steam-powered machinery. What do you see in this piece, especially considering the title and its form? Curator: The form speaks volumes, doesn't it? Teapots are traditionally associated with domesticity and warmth. But here, we have this industrial, almost brutalist form, crafted from ceramic to resemble metal pipes and geometric structures. The "Raymond" in the title hints at something too. Does it perhaps evoke a specific memory or association for the artist? The geometric patterns also pull me in; where does the rigidity end? What is soft? Editor: That's fascinating. I didn't even consider the title in relation to a potential personal meaning. Are there any established symbolic readings of industrial forms that we should keep in mind here? Curator: Industrial forms often symbolize progress, modernity, and even a kind of dehumanization. Notice how this teapot seems almost unusable? The spout and handle are barely functional as you would expect in traditional, organic teapots. It asks us to rethink functionality and perhaps question our relationship with progress, doesn't it? Its a challenge that makes it unforgettable. Editor: Yes, the questioning of function definitely comes across. It is an impressive sculpture; quite unique in its ceramic and steel pipe aesthetic. I have been too focused on what a teapot *should* be! Thank you. Curator: It is not a teapot after all; it has unlocked new potentials through material and form! It also reminds us of how found objects and the act of assembling, can reveal layers of meaning and cultural memory that one would have missed otherwise. Food for thought!