Ken Larson & Patricia Larson

Our medium of choice is clay sculpture, which we have come to as a natural progression.The craft of working with clay was learned starting with functional forms. Over the period of 30+ years they became first decorative objects then representations that elicit an imaginative response. Clay is a flexible medium. All the things you can do with it—fold, paddle, add, subtract, texture, burnish, etc.—offer virtually endless possibilities.Combine that with the different firing techniques of raku, blackware, and low tempera-ture salt saggar, and you have a lot of room to explore. But, one must remember that technique is only a footnote to the art, only a step towards communication through the object.The art is about our lives, experiences, and interests. It is a reflection of the wild land we live on and the extremes of the northern continental climate—short, frantic summers and cold, character building winters. Because our work starts with us—humans—the human form, often simplified or abstracted has become an important element. An ongoing love affair with birds and their representation in clay makes up the balance. Combining these focuses has led to exploring the possibilities for interactions between humans and birds,or in a larger sense, between the human race and the environment. Also, virtually everypiece has a story which gives the finished work added meaning beyond the decorativeaesthetic.