All my work is made by hand in my Brattleboro, Vermont studio. The bold lines and generous shapes echo ancient traditions, but reflect a contemporary sensibility as well. The scale of the pieces lends a sense of presence that makes them a powerful focal point in a room or a landscape.
Much of my work celebrates the intrinsic beauty of the fired clay. The warm, unglazed surfaces emphasize the elemental nature of the medium and the forms themselves as sculptural compositions. The glazes I favor add dimensions of depth and vibrancy that respond to the changing quality of the ambient light. The rugged stoneware will last for generations.
COMMISSIONS
I welcome inquiries about custom work. I would be happy to discuss your setting and work with you on designing a piece or group of pieces specific for your home or garden.
TECHNIQUE
Over the past several years as my work has become larger I have found specialized materials and developed techniques to accommodate the demands of working at large scale. Pieces are thrown on a potter’s wheel in stages over several days and, after a week or more of gradual drying, fired to 2,300º F.
PLACING VESSELS INDOORS OR OUT
My work is high-fired stoneware, giving it extraordinary strength and durability. Lidded vessels can be placed outdoors year-round; they will withstand freezing temperatures so long as they do not collect or stand in water.
Click to download PLACING POTS AND GARDEN ORNAMENTS, by Gordon Hayward. You can learn more about Gordon and Mary and their wonderful gardens at www.haywardgardens.com.
