The Island Gallery : Gavin Noyes

Gavin Noyes studied ceramic wood firing techniques in Shigaraki, Japan under Katou Takahiko before building his own anagama kiln in southern Utah. While in Japan, Gavin participated in 21 wood kiln firings ranging from two to ten days in length, with numerous potters. Gavin is currently producing wood fired ceramics full-time, which he sells through galleries in the western U.S. Before studying ceramics in Japan, he earned a degree from the University of Michigan in Japanese and Environmental Science.

Gavin incorporates natural materials including; plants, bones, and rocks into his clay and as surface decoration on his work. The impurities and unique characteristics of these natural elements contribute significantly to the aesthetic qualities he seeks. He prefers to create with his hands, and secondarily with handmade tools. Gavin tries to humanize his forms so that they will be enjoyed by the hands, mouths, and eyes that use them.

Gavin prefers the unadorned beauty that results from wood-firing. "The surface of each pot tells the story of what happened between the fire and earth inside the kiln. Often there is no glaze obscuring the raw clay except the wood ash carried by the flames onto the surface of each piece. This beauty is similar to that found in southern Utah's striking landscapes, where the earth is naked of the trees, soil, and water which blanket most of our planet." Its creation, much like Gavin's work, is revealed to anyone who takes the time to study its intricacies.

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