Rossheim - Marrinson

Emily Rossheim's bowls are so exquisitely luminous that you don't know where the bottom is. You want to put your finger in to make sure that there really is depth to the vessel.

In her own words, Emily says, "My decorative vessels are studies in simplicity and grace of form, the juxtaposition of textures and colors which enliven each other and the luminosity of soft, non-reflective surfaces."

“It’s my desire to present objects familiar enough to evoke personal associations, yet subtle enough to raise questions in the mind of the viewer. Both draw the viewer in, to verify their initial impressions through touch and visual investigations. Is it light? It is heavy? Is the depth actual or an illusion?”

Emily slab-constructs her bowls of white earthenware clay and leaves the inner and outer surfaces entirely matte. The sheer inner color comes from airbrushed underglazes. The result is a surface that seems to absorb light and intensify it into a matter glow. “I bring a graphic eye to a tactile medium. Appreciating the intrinsic earthy, organic quality of clay as a material, I treat the surface with texture that invites touch, and the edges with a spontaneity that suggests motion and vitality. Of equal interest to me is the exploration of the use of visual effects, which belie the nature of the material and serve to create an atmosphere of mystery. Thus, a simple ceramic form takes on a living presence.”

The sheer simplicity of her bowl forms, and their inner vibrancy, seem to echo Rossheim’s own life. She works in solitude in her private studio, yet is surrounded by a supportive community. The slow pace of life in her Vermont town suits her. “I’m meditative, inward-looking. I think my work reflects that. It’s spare. Every detail is taken care of. I really am a person who puts huge amounts of time into a piece. I like detail.”

The archetypal vessel is Emily Rossheim’s muse and the results of her efforts in the studio are truly inspiring. Her vessels are “studies in simplicity and grace of form, the juxtaposition of textures and colors, and the luminosity of soft non-reflective surfaces.” They will lift the spirits daily.