Friday, March 06, 2009

Robert "Boomer" Moore



Last Friday we went to a workshop in Concord University in Athens WV
It turned out to be a very nice day for the drive.

Robert ‘Boomer’ Moore was the presenter. He also had a show in conjunction with the workshop. and it was split between his functional work and his sculptures.

He is an assistant professor at WVU and an avid tool maker, kiln builder and of course first and formost a potter.

His demonstration was informative, relaxed and fun he made Casseroles, mugs and candle holders.

After throwing on the wheel he pushed out then torched, pushed out and torched until he had these wonderful bubbles all around the form.

All the time telling us about his days at University of Utah at Logan where he got his MFA in ceramics. telling us about his wife that stuck with him since she was his sweetheart in school and also telling us about his sculptures that were inspired by his observation of his children and by his hopes and fears for them.

He then related his beginnings in production pottery and how he kept on making these kinds of functional pots until one of his professors told him to “stop making pots for your mother”

His pots are soft undulating and organic with a bit of whimsy to them, although they are not really meant for function yet they retain the ethics of functional pottery.

His sculptures are profound, made of multimedia; with glass, wood and metal besides pottery and yet retaining the whimsy that is obvious in all his work.

And so we came home wishing we had planned to stay for the whole workshop but one day was better than nothing,

I will make it a point to seek out another workshop by him, maybe a hands on.