Ceramics and Pottery Arts and Resources

 

James Tower, Waving reeds vessel

1980

 

 

 

Fluid Abstract odyssey

 

Sinuous movement and a transcendent kinesis, inspired by water currents, marine life and the sea are very ubiquitous in James Tower’s sgraffito ceramic decorations, mainly from an underwater perspective. The gentle movement of water reeds, sea forest kelps and other natural abstractions is captured with the use of enticing patterns, rhythm, tension and a fluidity in his ceramic sculptures to create perspectives of sublime motion. His pieces like Nebulae, Sea Piece Opus and Glacier make you feel like you are being drawn you into a submerged Sci Fi like portal, inviting you to float into a fluid tromp e-l’œil dimension.

Tower claimed that his goal was to achieve “a sense of completion to satisfy a longing for a serene harmonious whole, which contains dynamism and vitality, to fulfill our intellectual and spiritual needs.” This was even more poignant to him by the fact that he regarded it as such an elusive quality. At the age of 17, James spent time in Australia and New Caledonia, where it would have been hard to ignore the dynamism of the oceans. He later stated that he searched for ways to convey a sense of integrity, releasing internal, serene and harmonious tensions, in a world where abundant energy remains calm. ‘The objects that I strive to do are  attempts at hymns to the beauty of the natural world’.

A centenary exhibition of this British trailblazer in contemporary ceramic art and sculpture is currently running at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath, UK, till the 24th November, 2019. This exhibition consists of over 50 works by Tower, dating from the 1930s to the 80s. Many of these works will be on public display for the first time.

 

 

‘Snow Forest’ — ceramic sculpture

Erskine Hall & Coe

 

‘Snow Forest’ –view 2  — James Tower

 

 

James Tower ‘Large Bowl’, 1983, tin-glazed earthenware,

44 cm diameter

 

James Tower-contemproary sgraffito vessel

 

 

James Tower Centenery exhibition abstract ceramic sculptures

 

 

James Tower abstract platter

 

 

James Tower, Small Bowl

1950

 

 

James Tower sgraffito decoration

 

 

Victoria Gallery exhibition, Bath

 

 

 

James Tower – Tear shaped platter

 

 

James Tower – ‘Winter Grasses Opus’ – a large flat disc form

1986

 

‘Nebulae’ 2 – A large flattened square vase, 1981

 

 

James Tower, Black and White Bowl

1958

 

 

James Tower, ‘Oval Form’

1981

 

 

James Tower ‘Round Form’ tin-glazed earthenware

55 x 56 cm  —  1983

 

 

Owl Dish – James Tower

 

 

James Tower, Circular Grey and Black Bowl

1958

 

James Tower ceramic scultpure

 

Footed ovoid vessel – James Tower

 

Black/white sgraffito vase  —  James Tower

 

 

James Tower, ‘Cockerel Plate’

1952

 

James Tower, ‘Fish Dish’

 

 

James Tower, ‘Fish Skeleton Opus 150′ vase

12 inches, 1957

 

 

James Tower painting on paper

 

 

James Tower sgraffito geometric mosaic style plate

 

 

James Tower

 

 

James Tower, ‘Glacier’, tin glazed earthenware

 

 

James Tower, ‘Leaf Vase’

 

 

James Tower, ‘Morning Tide Long Form’

 

 

James Tower, ceramic Sculpture

1965-66  16.5 inches height

 

 

 

 ‘Sea Piece’, flat round form – James Tower

22 inches height,  1985

 

 

James Tower, ‘ Sea Piece opus-179′

1984

 

James Tower, ‘Thaw Opus 145′

17inches

 

James Tower, ‘Spume’

 

James Tower, ovoid ‘Vessel’

1985

 

James Tower, ‘Winged Form’

1961

 

James Tower —  Black and white Fish Dish

 

 

Leaves Vessel by James Tower