RON VAVRA "Ron Vavra has a natural design talent which is revealed in his work by its balance, harmony and elegance of line" Melissa Post, Curator Mint Museum Ceramic art is notable for its rather rigid, hard-lined appearance which is understandable given its roots in pottery and the restrictions of clay and firing. However, using techniques he developed on his own, Ron Vavra has leapt over these bounderies into a world of fluidity, even sensuousness that places his work in a totally different and exciting category of its own. These elegant and flowing designs in stoneware are painted  with acrylics after firing. His current work is a series called SeaShapes and these pieces are represented on this site. Earlier, he worked with distressed wood that he turned on a lathe. His wood sculptures reside in many private and public collections and is still available through selected galleries.

SEASHAPE 5 $1,600

"Whether I'm sculpting in wood or ceramics, each medium has its own challenges. Clay has a mind of its own, generally favoring gravity's needs more than mine. Working wood on a lathe gives rise to different issues. Hollowing out the inside of a piece, with the jagged edged wood spinning at several hundred revolutions a minute is dangerous and physically demanding. The wood is usually very unstable and can fly off the lathe without warning."   In addition, much of the wood Ron Vavra turns has numerous holes, fissures and cracks that can catch the tip of a gouge, shattering the piece while his hands are inside it. This work requires masterful skill, a steady hand, concentration and belief in one's own ability.