Last Monday, Memorial Day I drove down to Denver to deliver some work to Plinth Gallery.  This Friday (June 4) is the opening of Jen Allen’s show (see her interview below) and the third anniversary of the gallery.  For the festivities Jonathan Kaplan, Plinth’s owner asked if I would bring a few pieces down for the celebration.  I’m delighted to have work as part of the birthday, and thrilled to be having a show at Plinth in the fall of 2011!!!

Here is Jonathan in the back room of the gallery with my work.  If you’re following the interviews Jonathan was interviewed on my blog in February.  If you missed his interview click here.

Saturday was a big delivery day, Laura from DIA (Denver International Airport) met me at Plinth to pick up the rest of the commission.  It felt really good to get it finished and delivered.  It was a lot of late nights making pots for them.  (I will post images of the pots in the next post.)  They will be on display in the offices of DIA, until they are given to Mayor Hickenlooper and the Denver City Council in July.  I’ve been told that they will send pictures of the event.  I’ll post them on the blog when I get them.

Another view of the back room of the gallery and Jonathan.  I love the built in shelving for the mugs and cups, a potter’s dream.  Plinth is the only gallery dedicated solely to ceramics in the Denver and Front Range region of Colorado.  It is  located in the River North Art District (Rino), which is Denver’s new and fast growing art area.

A view of a very small part of Hayne Bayless’  show and work, and the front of gallery.  Also a few pots made by Lisa Pedolsky, who is going to have an interview on the blog soon.

I wanted to get more pictures of the gallery, but these guys were waiting soooooo patiently to go to the Denver Zoo.  I was rushed with the pictures.   We had a great day at the zoo, with my friend Sherry and her kids.  It was so fun to watch the kids discover the animals.  And I got to use my new found knowledge of exotic animals, from my extensive studies of  Go Diego Go, The Wonder Pets, and Dora the Explorer.

Plinth Gallery’s website: http://plinthgallery.com/

More info about Jonathan: http://plinthgallery.com/jonathan-kaplan/

Jonathan’s artwork is impeccably designed with a commitment to craftsmanship and attention to detail.  His work combines so many different types of building, thrown, hand built, and slip casted.  Hopefully, you made it to his show last month, a Four Decades in Clay, A Jonathan Kaplan Retrospective.  He exhibited work from his undergrad days, to the pieces he is currently making. 

Jonathan is the owner of the stunning Plinth Gallery, in Denver Colorado.  I am extremely honored to be able to have a show there in 2011. 

Tell us a little about yourself!

I have been fortunate to work in ceramics for 40 years. I needed a few credits to complete my high school education and took a ceramics class. For a graduation present, my parents sent me Alfred University for summer session. At that point my career path in medicine was derailed! I studied architecture for a number of years at Case Western Reserve University and then completed my undergraduate education at Rhode Island School of Design and then earned my graduate degree in ceramics from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. My first pottery studio was outside of Reading Pennsylvania during the phenomenal growth of the craft industry in the 1970’s and 1980’s. After moving to Colorado to begin a new career to the ski and bike industry in Telluride and then Steamboat Springs Colorado, I returned to ceramics and started Ceramic Design Group, a contract design and manufacturing studio. We worked with many clients and produced a large quantity of ceramics during that time. In fact, I authored an article in the current Studio Potter magazine about my experiences during those years. I moved to Denver in 2006 after 15 years as a ceramics manufacturer working for others and now work for myself and curate Plinth Gallery. (www.plinthgallery.com)

What is your inspiration for your pieces?

I have a healthy respect for ceramic history and find that to be an unlimited source for ideas. My interest in architecture and design also keeps me fueled.

What do you create? Where do you get your inspiration for your ceramics?

 My work has always been rooted in the vessel form and the infinite possibilities of it’s interpretation. My current work references the Moche Culture, 100-800 C.E., from the Northwest Coast of Peru

What is the most important thing you’d like people to know/understand about your work?

 I want my work to engage the viewer on many levels. Perhaps the most important one is that of content. The work must be visually interesting and made with out compromise in craftsmanship. With the plethora of ceramics available, I want my work to provoke questions, not so much about how the work is made but what is it about, and why?

What keeps you motivated?

 My desire to always make new work that exceeds my expectations. I want to surprise myself. Those small bits inspiration that yield an

“Ah-Ha!” moment for me are incredibly gratifying and present new ways of seeing.

What or who inspires you?

I like the work of Kristin Keiffer, Alleghany Meadows, Sam Chung, Sam Harvey, Lorna Meaden, Blair Meerfeld, Elizabeth Robinson just to mention a few of the many ceramic artists making intimate objects for daily use. I enjoy large scale clay work by Stephen deStaebler and Jun Kaneko, and the large scale steel/iron construction by Richard Serra. Other ceramic artists I admire are Dan Anderson, Marek Cecula, Kathy Erteman, Hayne Bayless,and William Daley.I find the architecture of Frank Gehry inspiring.

Are you a full-time artist?

Yes I am a full time artist and attempt to devote 5-6 hours a day in the studio. However, life does get in the way and there are certainly many times that I cannot devote that daily schedule in the studio. I recently renovated an old warehouse in the River North Arts District(www.rivernorthart.com) in downtown Denver and while the renovations have been completed, there is always work to do! The gallery is a full time job and my wife Dorothy has taken it to task and is doing a wonderful job with all the minutia of the business of running Plinth Gallery.

Tell us about your Gallery? When and why did you decide to start your business?

 I moved to Denver in 2006 and immediately observed that Denver needed a gallery that is devoted solely to ceramics. Plinth Gallery is a pristine venue for the sculptural ceramic vessel offering works by career and upcoming ceramic artists. We feature 9 monthly one person exhibitions by artists that have not shown in this area. The gallery also represents work by approximately 12 ceramic artists the Plinth Gallery Collection. We provide both an exhibition space as well as an educational venue for the community to bring exceptional work to existing collectors and those interested in acquiring ceramics as new collectors.

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?

Follow your muse. Get whatever education you need for the creative aspects and do not neglect the business parts of whatever it is that you are doing. Prepare yourself to make many mistakes but understand that this is all part of the educational process necessary for you work smart and avoid working hard. These are very challenging times for artists and demand challenging, insightful, and non-linear thinking. Think outside of the box and try not to become discouraged. If you wish to succeed, keep your eye on the prize and always keep it in sight.

Thanks Jonathan, great interview.

Become a fan of Plinth Gallery:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Plinth-Gallery/112315602464?ref=ts