Copyright 2024 Jerry Rhodes Pottery
Jerry Rhodes
Raku & Fine Art Pottery
Jerry Rhodes is a ceramic artist living in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His work has appeared in numerous juried shows and exhibitions. He currently exhibits in galleries throughout the United States and has many pieces in public and private collections internationally. Jerry has an Electrical Engineering degree from Penn State University, is a former Air Force officer, and has held numerous senior satellite and space systems engineering and directorship positions throughout his career. Jerry has finally(!) retired from his day job, and is thankfully able to commit more time to pottery and travel.
The firing process I use for my pottery is often described as Raku, but the motivation behind my use of this technique might be considered its philosophical opposite. Rather than seeking a harmonious balance or simplicity through my work, I try to achieve dynamic and imaginative results by challenging the boundaries of gravity, material science, chemistry, and sometimes, common sense. Often I will use traditional style glazes and classic post firing reduction techniques, but other times I'll use plant food, steel wool, and horsehair during the firing, and add African porcupine quills to complete a composition. The results are usually very dramatic.
I also like to combine seemingly disparate elements drawn from a global, temporal, and cultural palate to form a composition. Some pieces may blend science with antiquity; Einstein’s equations for Special Relativity carved around the rim of a classic Greek form, for instance, while others may represent a cultural fusion; African and Polynesian tribal components combined into a loosely symbolic presentation. In the end, I’m not trying to resolve the different elements that go into a piece, but rather, trying to bring the composition to a point where it finds a temporary détente within itself. Recently, I’ve been extending this approach and my glaze formulation to include functional dinner and drink ware.
Each piece I create is unique, and each one represents a new and exciting learning experience.