John Tobin
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Whirlwind Café
slab construction, stoneware clay, oxide wash, incised line and texture
11.5" x 11.5" x 12"
2013
$475
Whirlwind Café is a study in time and spatial relationships. There are definite distortions as the background recedes and the perspective is artificially exaggerated. The color scheme is kept simple with oxide stains against a pale background to direct the viewer to concentrate on the important details, which are a bit confusing.
What is happening?
There is implied movement of the dishes falling and breaking on the floor. Does this represent time passing?
Is that the sky beyond the doorway?
Are we caught up in a whirlwind? Should we be alarmed?
Fireman 451
earthenware, hand built, multi-fired: cone 04-019, underglaze, mason stain, glaze, lusters
13.5" x 7.5" x 6.5"
2015
$425
Fireman is a tribute to the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
Unlike the movie version, Fireman follows Bradbury’s description of a man with dark hair always looking as though he needed a shave just having shaved. The protagonist wonders if they aren’t all genetically engineered? The book describes a much darker view of the future where, not only learning is controlled but emotions are dulled by drugs and interpersonal relationships are shallow and violence is the norm. Deep set eyes question the world and his role in it. This kind of personal discord is foreign to him and he is conflicted between programming and emotion.