Thursday, July 16, 2009

GORKY GONZALEZ - CALIFORNIA & NEW YORK GIFT SHOWS

Gorky Gonzalez Cake Stands
Gorky Gonzalez Urns

Gorky Gonzalez will be presenting some of his newest pieces at the California gift show at the LA Convention Center, booths 618, 620, and 622 in Kentia Hall from July 17 - 20 and at the New York International Gift show at the J.J. Convention Center in the handmade section, booths 5042 and 5044 from August 5 to 19.

Gorky's Background

Gorky Gonzalez was born in the city of Morelia, Michoacán, on September 27th, 1939. He is the son of sculptor Rodolfo Gonzalez, with whom he worked and studied sculpture and casting of artistic objects in bronze and lost wax.

In 1962 at 23, Gorky worked in San Miguel de Allende, a village located in the State of Guanajuato at the School of Arts and the Allende Institute, where he built an artistic foundry attended by both student and professional sculptors. Later he founded a small workshop of Terra Cotta manufacturing in the village of Marfil where he reproduced Jean Byron's designs.

His main interest, however, has always been rescuing the traditional Majolica. He studied ceramics in Guanajuato, which prompted him to rescue this lost craft which represents one of the cultural and historical values of this region.

While he was striving to achieve this aim, Gorky met Hisato Murayama, a young cultured Japanese who was studying Spanish, Philosophy, and Mexican history. Hisato Murayama, a professional connoisseur of pottery techniques, lent Gorky various books on Japanese art, encouraging him to continue his studies in Japan.

Gorky was granted a scholarship to study in Japan for 2 years, where he not only learned diverse pottery techniques but also met his wife, Toshiko. In this remote country he first studied in Tokyo with Tsuji Seimei, who taught the Shigaraki technique. Later he moved to the town of Bizen, where he studied with Kei Fujiwara, considered Japan's living national treasure, and with his son, Yu Fujiwara, also a renowned potter. There he learned the Bizen - Yaki technique.

Currently, Gorky Gonzalez owns his own ceramic workshop located in Guanajuato, Mexico. He works there with his son, Gorky Gonzalez Jr, where they continue to produce unique majolica ceramics for you to enjoy in your home.

Where to Buy Gorky Pottery

At La Casa Mexicana you can find a great selection of Gorky Gonzalez Pottery. If we don't have the Gorky piece that you are looking for you may special order your Gorky Pottery.

Gorky Gonzalez Kitchen Accessories

Sunday, July 12, 2009

DON'T TRASH YOUR BROKEN POTTERY



Winter, children, and just plain old accidents can take a real toll on pottery and ceramics. It's awfully sad when one of our treasures is found broken. But don't let that be the end and stop trashing broken clay pots and ceramic plates! We have great ideas to help those unwanted and once trashed broken pieces become wanted and needed items to adorn your home.

Items needed: safety goggles, hammer, cloth bag or 2 plastic bags, and a hard surface you aren't scared to scratch up

How to safely break up your pottery
Place your broken clay pottery or ceramic piece in the cloth bag or plastic bags. We recommend double-bagging if you use plastic since plastic bags can be punctured easily. Find a hard surface (ground, picnic table, etc.) that you won't mind using a hammer on. Make sure you are using your safety goggles or glasses. Place the bag of pottery on the surface and lightly tap the pottery with the hammer so that it chips away. You should try to make your chips about 1 square inch each. But don't be a perfectionist. Unequal sizes and irregular shapes are beautiful. Now that your pottery or ceramic is just a bag full of broken pieces, you are ready to get creative.

Planter Drainage
Plants need drainage. So how do we solve the problem of planters without drainage holes? Well, this one is easy. Just place those broken pottery shards in the bottom of the pot and fill the rest with soil. Depending on the size of the planter, the pottery shards should fill it to about 2 inches in depth.

Decorative Soil Cover
Many succulents and stemmed plants have bad habits of leaving the soil bare. However, a quick fix to this bare soil is to place your broken pottery shards right on top of the soil. Create a layer just thick enough so that you can't see the soil. By placing the layer of broken pottery shards, weeds will have a tougher time growing and watering your plant will be made much easier because you won't have to worry about splashing the soil.

Mosaic Art
Colorful pottery shards and ceramic pieces are perfect for making beautiful mosaics. Consider creating a stunning mosaic on boring mirror frames, tables, large pots, and vases. For easy-to-follow directions on how to make a mosaic please follow these helpful instructions from e-How: Mosaic Art Directions.

Sea Shells to Pottery Shards
Want a new look for that old seashell lamp? Well look no further than your broken pottery shards! Take out the seashells and fill up the lamp with colorful pottery shards.