James Dahl (1946-)
"Covered Jar"
Stoneware, 2001.
LFAC #2002:05:22
Biography
James Dahl was born May 27, 1946. He studied pottery with Dean Schwarz at Luther College and attended the summer workshops founded by Marguerite Wildenhain at Pond Farm in 1968 and 1969. He continued his art education by attending the Atelier Met de Penninghen et J. d’Andon in Paris, France.
He began his ceramics career in 1969 in Berkeley, CA, by joining the Berkeley Potters’ Guild. At that time he rented workshop space in an old warehouse. Two years later, he relocated to Mendocino County, CA, south of Fort Bragg. He makes his living making functional stoneware. Dahl has formulated his clay and glazes to work in a specially designed oil-fired kiln which is fired in a reduction atmosphere to 2400 degrees F. He creates vases, decorative plates, platters, dinnerware, serving bowls, covered jars, and lamp bases. He also makes commissioned pieces.
The covered jar donated by Dahl to the Pond Farm Collection is glazed royal blue with a green and white shallow pressed design in a stylized wave pattern around the body of the vessel. There is a grey lip at the top and rim around the base. The royal blue peaked lid has a grey glazed interior.
Ref: Ripples: Marguerite Wildenhain and her Pond Farm Students. Curated by Billie Sessions. San Bernardino, CA: California State University, 2002; Pond Farm Collection: Works of Art Created by Students Who Studied with Marguerite Wildenhain at her Pond Farm Studio. Text by Jane Kemp. Decorah, IA: Luther College, 2003; Fine Arts Collection Files
