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LOCAL ARTIST PAUL CHALEFF

Hudson Valley ceramicist Paul Chaleff, known for his large-scale ceramic works, began exhibiting his pottery forms in 1966. Chaleff was one of the pioneers of the wood firing technique in America, exploring how this process created unique surfaces and effects achieved from firing with wood.

The ancient technique of wood firing clay to create vessels that would hold water dates back to the beginning of civilization. The process is demanding and requires physical exertion and time to prepare the wood for the open fire or kiln, and to maintain the fire during the firing process. Burning huge amounts of wood to generate the high heat necessary in the kiln creates large amounts of ash. The ash that accumulates in the kiln will then melt, producing a different layer on the surface of the clay or glaze. The natural and mostly uncontrollable effects that occur during the wood firing process are what draws some potters to the technique. In the case of Chaleff, this technique helped him create organic shapes with a natural process-driven surface.

For the past fifteen years, Chaleff has been working exclusively with sculptural and tablet forms, both glazed and wood-fired. In all of these works, he explores the innate elements of his materials and the ways in which they can be used to create forms and objects.

We are very pleased to be offering a large selection of Chaleff’s pottery jars in our December 6th auction.

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