Philip A. Burke
Education
B.S. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, ILM.S. Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
Ceramic Studies
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MNPigeon Lake Field Station-University of Wisconsin, Drummond, WI
Artist Statement
“Joining my hands with wet clay is pure joy. I love to transform a “lump” of clay into a beautiful ceramic pot. After the final fired stage, my pots may be ready to serve someone’s food, to please their eyes and be a pleasure to hold as well.I live near a lake at the edge of a woods where nature’s changing scenes influence me everyday. I draw, carve and shape natural features on my pots- leaves, birds, raindrops- and leave room for empty spaces, too. My blue, green, turquoise and creamy glazes mirror the earth, the sky and water.
There is so much to learn- form, size, color, function… the list goes on. And so I study pots made today and ages before, and then bring my own experiences of color, design and function to make them become authentically mine.”