Artist Statement

Peter Wolf

I’ve had a fascination and love affair with movement, balance and form for as long as I can remember.  This informs my approach to making art.  Ceramics education began in my early 20’s, along with drawing, while acquiring Undergraduate and Master degrees in Counseling and Psychology.  

My love of form expanded into designing and manufacturing fine jewelry.  Initially I traveled between California and Indonesia, working with artists in villages, and importing finished pieces back to the U.S.   Eventually I became a Gemologist, and an educator in the field of Gemology, through the Gemological Testing Laboratory and Association of Great Britain. I have designed and manufactured custom fine jewelry for individuals, by referral, for 35 years.

I returned to ceramics in my 50’s, after suddenly acquiring close-proximity vision impairment and proprioceptive/balance disabilities.   I used the creative practice of ceramics as part of my healing journey, to re-learn a relationship between my body and space.  Each of my pieces is generated with all of my senses, mindful of the goal of transformation.  Every piece contains a prayer for well-being, in a meditation to reach through the clay, from my heart beyond sight, to create something functional and beautiful.

I’ve studied Martial Arts from a young age.  It eventually led me to train in the Bujinkan, which includes lineages of the Samurai arts.  The way the Japanese balance even the smallest spaces with movement and function, nature and beauty, engaging the elements, in counterpoint, is very much in alignment with my personal aesthetic and disciplines.  

Recognizing adventure in the ordinary and unseen comes naturally.  I get deep satisfaction from seeking and honing the edge.   Most of adult life has been devoted to long-term training and exploring, and leading trainings in the physical, perceptual and intuitive skills of the indigenous tracker-scout.  I was initiated in both North, and South American medicine paths. 

When not making ceramics or designing custom jewelry, I practice as a Certified Executive Coach and Advisor.  I love facilitating clients to expand their insight, as they master new skills of observation, awareness and communication.  This work dovetails perfectly with my work as an artist.

Presentation in Galleries / Shows:

  • Period 2014-Present

  • Representation by The Ren Brown Collection, Bodega Bay, ongoing 

  • Invitational Show, Arts Guild of Sonoma, 2019 

  • Arts Guild Gallery of Sonoma

  • SRJC Gallery

  • Mendocino College Gallery 

  • Art Trails Sonoma County (Savos) through Sebastopol Center For The Arts

  • Art at the Source Sonoma County (Savos), through Sebastopol Center For The Arts

  • Petaluma Art In The Park

Raku Vessel As a former dancer, and lifelong student of Martial Arts, this series has been a challenge and a thrill to create. Sidestepping force and gravity, I gently coax the clay beyond what would seem possible for maintaining structural integrit
Four Cornered Bowl Textured shino and clay directional movement magic, cone 10 7 1/2” wide x 4 1/2” tall, thickness approximately 1/8” This high fire and raku series is featured in my Sebastopol studio, and in the Ren Brown Collection.
Ancestry Series Elemental high fire stoneware 11” wide / 3” high The decorative design in this Ancestry series is made within a meditation for well being while I apply the design, an abstraction of languages from the region of my 7000 year-old tri
Celebration #7 Bright oxidation fired with clear mineral glaze. Food safe. 9 1/8” wide x 6 3/8” tall The vivid color design of this series was inspired by a personal transformation. After head injuries affected my vision, balance, and hand coord
Asian Pear Textured Serving Bowl High fire ceramic Food safe, clay surface With this series no glazing is used, in order to present the natural surface character of the clay. As in the Ancestry series, I create these pieces, holding an intention
Previous

Parker