Growth Quilt (1977) – Rug (1984) – Quilt (1965)
Charles Counts | 1934-2000
Every now and then I like to review the work of craftsmen Charles Counts and search for more information about him. having seen a retrospective show of his work I have been a big fan since. Pinterest has allowed me to start gathering more images of his work. in launching his
new board I thought it appropriate to re-share information on his work.
Enjoy!
Troy
"Art is a disease. There is no cure for it."
This quote sums up the life of Charles Counts. Art "infected" Charles as a school boy in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and became his way of life He was the epitome of the Renaissance man, practicing various desciplinessuch as quilting, weaving, rug hooking, drawing, painitng, philosphy, poetry, and intellectual thinking. However, he became most well-known for his pottery and teaching. Counts worked hard to be a part of the
Appalachian heritage of craftsmen who made objects by hand.
Bottle and Cups (1957)
Charles Counts studied at various places including Berea College and Southern Illinois University at Carondale where he acquired an MFA in Ceramics and Weaving. Charles apprenticed for
Marguerite Wildenhain, a professor who studied at a the
Bauhaus School of Design in Germany. It was under his tutelage, Counts learned that art and craft are really two halves to a whole, that craft is the origination of any art form, and functionality of the object and simple design are the goal of any true artist. Counts also learned that an artist must master the fundamental elements of shape and form before being creative and that there is a spiritual connection between an artist and nature.
Hear Here Words (1984)
After training, Counts moved back to Tennessee to open his first studio near Knoxville between 1958 and 1962. Counts found inspiration and strength in the flora and fauna of the natural world. Repeated natural motifs in his work such as trees, mountains, and the sun reflect his belief of something spiritual in nature and in all things that grow.
Footed Covered Jar (1976) – Jar (1976) – Who Am I, Who Am Eye (1984)
Since 1956, Charles Counts was a member and avid supporter of the
Southern Highland Craft Guild whose mission it is to keep alive the Appalachian tradition of making traditional and contemporary arts and crafts by hand. His legacy resides in the hundreds of students he taught and influenced. The admiration he felt when he first saw the hand work of the mountain potters of Kentucky, Georgia, and North Carolina continued to propel him through life, challenging him always to make a better pot than the last one.
Space and Time (1984)