Arts Fest Photo - Matt Stevens

Artwork by: Luis Enrique Gutierrez

     When I saw Luis’ work I was drawn in by the vibrant colors. I have also always liked pottery and sculptures because they have a structural aspect as well as an artistic component. Sculptors are able to express themselves not only with the outward drawings and colors of their pieces but also in the design and shape of their work. I talked to Luis and he told me that he makes the shape of the vase by first putting clay onto a spinning wheel and then shaping it with his hands. When looking at the vase, the sides were completely smooth and symmetrical, it was clear a lot of work was put into perfecting its shape. After shaping the vase, he draws the intricate designs and then finally he paints them with oil-based paints. I am curious how he was able to draw the lines on the side of the vase so smoothly. If you look closely at the picture, some of the design patterns are very complicated. The bold lines that are etched into the sides are used the separate these different patterns.

This particular piece was interesting to me because of the different shapes that were formed by the intersections of different etch marks. At first glance, I thought I saw fishes on the side of the vase. The little circles with double outlines remind me of eyes, and their bright color makes them look like the eyes of a fish. The vase also had a lot of blue and tan around it. These colors reminded me of water and the beach. This seems appropriate as vases commonly hold water. Another interesting aspect of this piece was the symmetry and patterns. Across the vases outer surface, you can see a repeating oval shape and a shape that looks like a top. I did not ask Luis what these specific shapes meant but it would be interesting to find out.

Luis makes pottery in the same way it has been made for hundreds of years. He learned the tradition in his native San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua. He was taught by the last three generations of his family. Luis now works in Raleigh, North Carolina and continues to make pottery today. He has received multiple awards for his work and his pieces have been described as, “exhibiting a level of contemporary color, geometry, and sophistication that make his stone polished ceramic sculpture both traditional and modern at the same time”.