July 22 – October 8, 2006
From his earliest decorative wares, dating from the late 1940s, to his masterfully thrown bowls and bottles, James Lovera has been central to the Golden State's development of a vibrant and innovative ceramics tradition. The color and texture of his vessels make them immediately distinctive—earthy and raw in some instances, exploding supernovas of lustrous color in others. He seeks perfection in both technique and glazing, but also welcomes the chance effects created in the kiln. "I'm playing with fire every time," he jests. Craters from Fire features more than fifty works in stoneware and porcelain. Assembled from the artist's own collection and those of ardent private collectors, early and mature works are brought together for the first time in celebration of Lovera's accomplishments.