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Ceramics Monthly's reviews of Artists in Residence ceramics tapes Scott Bennett: Evolution at Work Fong Choo: Form Miniaturized Ron Dahline: Reflections in Mud Justin Teilhet: Form Magnified October, 2002 Intended as teaching aids, this series of videos takes "a day in the life" approach to document artists at work in their studios. Each is shown developing ideas in form and surface, while discussing aesthetic decisions. In Scott Bennett: Evolution at Work, Columbus, Ohio artist Scott Bennett talks about his series of "gems," wall pieces reminiscent of gemstones set in jewelry, which evolved from earlier vessel forms. The construction process involves several stages. He first throws a ring that is altered to form an oval slump mold; a wheel-thrown slab is then draped inside the oval mold to create the "gem." While working on the wheel, Bennett comments: "I don't really look at it as a tool to make the same thing over and over anymore. I kind of struggle with the whole production thing, although I admire it. I don't think I could do it. So I tend to look at coming over to the wheel as like taking out a new piece of paper every time." Next, (a month later), he is shown spraying an assembled and bisqued form with glazes, while describing the intended results. A third firing for gold luster is planned to continue the gem/jewelry theme. In the final segment (another month later), Bennett assesses the results, displaying those few he considers successful on the wall, and consigning the rejects to the floor. Fong Choo: Form Miniaturized features Fong Choo in his Louisville, Kentucky, studio, throwing and assembling miniature porcelain teapots. He begins by throwing--very quickly--various body shapes, spouts, and lids. "It may come across as me manhandling my clay, because I'm working pretty fast," he admits, but "the idea behind working fast is I want to keep it really fresh, I don't want to play with it--just pick, pick, pick. If I pick at this thing too many times, then I feel like I've overworked the clay." Three different teapots are then assembled from the thrown parts, and textured coils are added as handles and feet. Slides of similar finished forms suggest ways in which they may be glazed. To create his "in-your-face"" mugs, Cedar Key, Florida, potter Ron Dahline begins by throwing a large cylinder in Ron Dahline: Reflections in Mud. The remainder of the video focuses on the modeling work, which involves scraping, stretching, adding and removing clay to create facial features. Throwing on the wheel, Dahline says, is "like learning to play a musical instrument-just as difficult." Once the basics are learned though, it's important to develop a personal approach. "So many people don't realize that; [they] basically copy what somebody else has done, then claim it as their own. Although he typically works on a smaller scale, Justin Teilhet of Yellow Springs, Ohio, is shown throwing and assembling and 85-pound vase form in Justin Teilhet: Form Magnified. "Working large has been interesting for me," he says. "Instead of centering in on any given aspect of a pot, I'm keeping in mind the bigger picture." Having already thrown and assembled two sections to a height of approximately 2 feet, Teilhet throws two more sections, which are added to the vessel. The joins are smoothed and the walls are pulled further. A bowl shape is then thrown and joined (upside-down) to the top of the piece to finish the form. This series is available as VHS cassettes. Each is approximately 50 minutes. $25 each. Artists in Residence, 506 E. Tompkins St., Columbus, OH 43202; e-mail canderso@artinres.com; or telephone (614) 263-3206. Reprinted from the October 2002 issue of Ceramics Monthly (www.ceramicsmonthly.org), with permission from the publisher, The American Ceramics Society, 735 Ceramic Place, Westerville, Ohio 43081. All rights reserved.