Carl Kamp - Ceramics

Much of my pottery style is a leftover from my experiences while living in the southwest United States for five years (during the 1970s and 1980s). The ceramic pieces reflect a projection of the tranquility and inner peace that one perceives when visiting the southwest desert environment.  Each pot also symbolizes the spiritual and surreal aspects of the monumental desert vistas.  My inspiration is derived from the geologic features of the Monument Valley landscape and other related areas in Colorado, Nevada, Arizona and Utah.  The overall pot design shadows both ancient and traditional southwest Indian pottery styles with an abstract twist.  This style is also reflected in my early canvas paintings and drawings.  B.S. degrees in Art (1994) and Geology (1982) added to my understanding of pottery techniques and mineral use in creating glazes and clay bodies utilized on the pottery.  I have been pursuing this endeavor since the 1970s.  The pots reflect a somewhat abstract expression of the southwest sky colors and monument shapes and colors.  Some pots have lightning bolts, clouds, bushes and petroglyphs added to the mesa scenes.