ABOUT THE ARTIST

Paulina van Bavel-Kearney was born in 1949 in Ames, Iowa.  She now resides in Texas on a family ranch with her husband and three children.  She is currently teaching art in Columbus, Texas. Over the last 25 years, she has worked to perfect an innovative combination of techniques and forms with her clay vessels.  She uses both modern and ancient techniques

ABOUT THE WORK

Paulina’s clay pots are made of earthenware, a low-fired clay body that contains a lot of natural iron

The pots are fired in sawdust, and are allowed to cool in the ashes..  The black color is the result of the carbon interacting with the surface of the clay.  Other colors appear on the body of the vases during the firing.  These colors are due to the action of the smoke changing the molecular structure of the iron.

After the firing, the pots are polished with a terra sigilatta slip, a Roman term meaning refined earth.  It is a mixture of clay and water that is painted on the surface of the work and polished by with a soft cloth while damp.  Van Bavel- Kearney can control some outcomes, but much of the magic in the unique markings on each pot comes spontaneously during the firing.

CARE OF THE WORK

Paulina’s pieces are to be handled with care as they are fired to a low temperature, so the finish is porous.  Sunlight will not harm them.  Sharp jewelry can scratch the finish.  They should be handled without oily hands as they can smudge and the oil will soak into the surface.  They can be washed or wiped clean with plain water, whereupon the colors will darken, but will soon return to their natural state when dry.  Water should never be left standing in the vases as the salts in the water will soak in and corrode the surface. 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2001, Made in Texas, UT San Antonio Art Gallery, curated by Ron Boling, New Braunfels Museum of Art and Music

1993, Texas Clay II, Southwest Texas University, San Marcos, curated by Michel Conroy, Arlington Museum of Art

1987, Contemporary Crafts: A Concept in Flux, curated by Helen Drutt English

1981, New Expressions in Contemporary Crafts, Dallas Museum of Fine Arts

1979, Texas Crafts, Touring exhibition, Blaffer Gallery

GALLERY AND MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS

2000, Live Oak Art Center, Columbus, Texas

1988, Contemporary Craftsman, Santa Fe, New Mexico

1980, Laguna Gloria Art Museum, Austin, Texas

1977, Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas

COLLECTIONS

Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas

Lannan Foundation, Palm Beach, Florida

Standard Oil of Ohio, Houston, Texas

M-Bank, Houston, Texas

Radisson Hotel, Austin, Texas