November 21, 2008 01:35 pm
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By SCOTT NILES
Courier staff writer
ALBIA — Eric Stearns has two passions — math and art.
Put those two interests together and the result is a beautiful collection of pottery in his Albia studio on the downtown square.
Stearns recently completed his master’s degree in fine arts at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan., after earning a bachelor’s degree from Doane College in Crete, Neb.
Early on, Stearns’ desire was to be a math teacher, and that was his focus when he began his studies at Doane College.
But during that time at Doane, he realized he had more interest in perfecting his grids and connecting the patterns, thus a calling of sorts to create ceramic pottery.
“I do a lot with lines and patterns,” he said. “For me, ceramics is a way to express myself.”
And that expression has taken form in a relatively new style of pottery making — American Raku — created in the 1960s by artist Paul Soldner.
Raku is different from traditional ceramic pottery because of the way in which the pottery is heated and cooled. The result is a beautiful smoky-colored pottery that can be decorated and glazed in any fashion.
The Raku style focuses on heating the pottery to roughly 1,800 degrees and then cooling it rather quickly to create a smoke-like effect in the pattern.
Following in that same style, Stearns has learned the technique and put his own spin on it.
Stearns labels himself a “perfectionist.” Every piece has to look just the way he wants it; every line, every detail has to be perfect.
“If I’m not happy with it I will just break it and throw it in the Dumpster,” he said.
His studio is filled with dozens of ceramic vases, pots and other clay-based pottery; each piece is an original design.
“I never make the same piece twice,” Stearns said. “I think that is what helps me become a better artist.”
Late at night when the downtown square is quiet, Stearns said it’s not uncommon to find the only light illuminating the square other than the street lights, is the light from the window in his upstairs studio.
“People probably have wondered what is going on up here,” he said. “But, it’s just me working on my ceramics.”
The Nebraska native moved to Albia to do his artwork because it seemed like a nice quiet place, he said.
Stearns hopes to continue to do his ceramics, but is also seeking teaching positions at a university or college.
“I just want to share my knowledge with others,” he said.
Stearns’ pieces range in price from $100 to $2,100 — it all depends on how much detail and work is put into each item.
And every piece of artwork, he said, has a deeper meaning than just color, shape or size. Each one represents something different — “what people see and what people don’t see.”
“I put my own personal touch on every one of my pieces that I do,” Stearns said. “That is what makes them unique.
“Art goes beyond what you see. Otherwise, why would people do it?”
Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.
BREAKOUT BOX
On the Internet
www.stearnsceramics.com
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