GARY K. MONJI

MEDIUM

Ceramics

ARTIST STATEMENT

The Clay by Page Hanami Monji

Spinning, the clay dances and
Sings beneath these hands anticipating,
Reaching to know a new form.
A beautiful path –
Seeing the turns of artistic growth,
I hold the hands of fellow travelers
And the clay guides the artist’s hands.
I am transformed by its presence.
Its hands reveal a new form.
Joy fulfilled, molded from a journey.

ARTIST BIO

Gary Monji, a life-long native of California, has been practicing the art of ceramics for 58 years. Having started his art career dabbling with woodworking, design, and architecture design, Gary found his creativity and passion best channeled through the unpredictability and fluidity of ceramic art.

As a California native, Gary finds inspiration in nature- pulling textures and colors from his surroundings. Playing upon the innate transformation in ceramics from crude earthen materials into artwork, Gary strives to capture a sense of serenity and rawness in his art forms. His work is also influenced by the complex techniques found in Japanese artwork, prehistoric pottery patterns, Greek forms, and most importantly by his conversations with those that he meets.

Over the years, he has specialized in various techniques: the Japanese traditional art of Raku ware, stoneware, and sculpture.

Gary’s vision is to provide pieces that have both compelling forms and innovative crystalline glazes. The crystals, which are planted and grown in the kiln during the final firing stages, produce iridescent and unpredictably radiant patterns.