Palul Paul Rideout

Redding, California, USA

Title: Nuclear Fishin

Year of Creation: 2009

Glaze: Underglazes and glazes, raku fired and reduced in cedar shavings

Clay Body: B-Mix with grog

Dimensions: Height 26 inches, Width 6 inches

Artist's Statement: The idea was a vertical fish (jumping?) symbolizing a leap out of one's element. The technique needed to be fast and powerful. Slab construction and raku firing fit the bill. Remarkably, after I had built this piece, I discovered an almost identical fish (Julidochromis regani) in a fish book. The difference being the real fish never grows more than 5 inches long. Mine, being 26 inches long, must have been a mutation due to nuclear waste in my mind. Go figure!

I started out 40 plus years ago on the wheel. After ten years I began teaching at Shasta College in Redding, CA. That was over 25 years ago. Although ceramic pieces last thousands of years, I consider my students to be my greatest legacy.

Over time my work has gone through many transformations. Ultimately I know that good art blends the idea over technique. However, the idea must have a universal quality - beyond time, locations and cultures - to be great and lasting art. Technique gives one the ability to manifest the idea.

To get a further perspective of my history and the range of my work visit my website: palul.com.