Whitewater, WI ARTIST STATEMENTMy current work takes two overlapping directions. I produce utilitarian pots intended for everyday use and more sculptural but still functional covered vessels. I am particularly intrigued by textiles, baskets, tribal masks and vernacular architecture witnessed during recent travel in West Africa and Indonesia. Inspiration comes in many forms but usually manifests itself subtly and abstractly. Although I hand build some pieces, most are wheel thrown and some are altered to create squared, oval or triangular forms. To satisfy my minimalist instincts I restrict my color palette using just two slips and four glazes. I use two clays (stoneware and porcelain) which results in slightly different color responses. Surface embellishment, when employed, incorporates basket weave imagery, checkerboard patterns or parallel lines. Subtle surface variations, color and texture are achieved by the addition of wood ash to the surface of the pots before loading and the introduction of a small amount of salt at the end of the firing. BIOGRAPHYKarl Borgeson grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1962 Borgeson began studying Art in Design at St. Cloud University, where he was introduced to working with clay. After graduating with his Bachelors Degree, he entered the workforce for a short time before enrolling in the MFA program at the University of Minnesota. After receiving his MFA, he taught at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater for more than 30 years. He is now ‘retired’, and a full-time studio potter. He has given workshops and talks at institutions, including the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and the Appalachian Center for Craft. He has also been in many exhibitions and publications, and his work is included in major collections across the country. He currently maintains a studio practice out of Whitewater, WI.