Artist Research Project
Ian Bassett is a visual artist and potter living in The San Francisco East Bay. He was born in Seoul, Korea and grew up in Connecticut on the Long Island Sound. He received his BFA in Ceramics from the New Hampshire Institute of Art, a Post Baccalaureate in ceramics from Hood College and his MFA in ceramics from Rochester Institute of Technology’s School for American Crafts. His work communicates a focus on craft and traditional practices while pushing these elements to a more contemporary platform. Bassett is drawn particularly to Japanese and Korean folk pottery. He explores cultural connections through his work while also combining many modern aspects.
Bassett soda fires his work at Folks Pottery shop located in the East Bay of the San Francisco area. Soda firing provides "subtle, dramatic surfaces and colors" that he finds alluring. It creates tension and balance throughout his work which is part of what makes it so special and also why I too enjoy his work.
The visible theme throughout his work tends to be the finish, designs, and colors that he uses. The mood and rhythm that is created in his work makes is very peaceful and easy to look at. He incorporates a perfect balance of individuality and simplicity in his work that I really like. The unity and consistency of his designs and color schemes yet the the diversity within it isn't an easy thing to achieve but I believe that he did it very well. Not only is the aesthetic portion of his work very impressive, but they are practical and useful pieces as well. Ian Basset makes and sells many variations of bowls, dishes, and vase like pieces. They could be used for many different things and I could see them being very diversely utilized. Between the cultural ties, shape, design, and color, I am thoroughly intrigued and enraptured by Ian Bassett's work.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XkhykciOkeHIUssv_MUTX35tkkU0mUQizUAKiyIbJ_o/edit#slide=id.p
