Mythic Vessels:
The Ceramic Art of Tim and Pamala Ballingham
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| "Lotus Lantern" © 2000 Tim and Pamala Ballingham Click to enlarge |
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| "Ceremonial Lantern" © 2000 Tim and Pamala Ballingham Click to enlarge |
Mythic Vessels:The Ceramic Art of Tim and Pamala Ballingham |
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| "Pottery is one of the most enduring marks of a civilization," notes Liliana and Benjamin Villegas (in their book Artefactos). "While it is not always the first material creation of a culture, it is often the only remnant of the culture's existence and so of enormous archaeological importance. The ceramic remains of a people can reveal the approximate time-frame during which they lived and provide insights into their technology, artistry, religion and myths."
Many old cultures accorded a magical or spiritual significance to the making of pottery, for in the process, the four elements all come together: earth, water, fire, and air. When clay is shaped into a vessel, it becomes a universal feminine symbol, according to folklorist J.C. Cooper. In The Encyclopedia of Traditional Symbols he writes that a vessel represents "the womb of the Great Mother; shelter; protection; preservation; nourishment; fertility; it also represents inwardness and inner values. The hermetic vessel is the container of opposites, the receiver and nourisher of that which is to be transformed. The vase, water-pot, and pitcher symbolize the cosmic waters; the matrix; the feminine receptive principal; acceptance; fertility; the heart. A vase with flame issuing from it depicts the union of fire and water; a vase of wine signifies inspiration; a full vase, giving no sound, is the man of knowledge." In Buddhism, a vase or bowl is one of the auspicious signs of the Buddha. In Chinese Buddhism, Kwan Yin holds a vessel representing fertility and compassion. Seven small bowls of water on a Buddhist shrine represent the seven offerings for honored guests: drinking water, washing water, flowers, incense, lamps, perfume, and food. In Hinduism, a vase symbolizes the power of the shakti, while an empty a bowl is a symbol of spiritual receptivity and an attribute of Ganesha. In Christian iconography, a vase holding a lily represents the Annunciation. In Egyptian myth, vessels represent the heart, the vivifying power of nature, and the waters of life. Vessels are also associated with religious contemplation (the begging bowls of monks and mystics), death (an empty urn represents the soul fled from the body, while an urn with flames issuing from its mouth is a symbol of resurrection), and spiritual transformation. Tim and Pamala Ballingham are two contemporary artists who have extensively studied ancient ways of molding and firing clay -- as well as indigenous rituals, stories, and music from around the world. Like the writers of modern mythic fiction, they are passing on folkloric imagery and updating it for new generations -- creating sacred vessels, spirited wall art, and new mythic symbols for our age.
Timothy G. Ballingham was born and raised in Utah. He received a B.F.A. in Ceramics and Sculpture at Utah State University, and an M.A. at Kansas State University under the guidance of master ceramist, Angelo Garcia. Since 1970, he has taught classes and workshops on primitive firing techniques, kiln building, hand building, and wheel-throw pottery; throughout the eighties, he was also an Administrative Associate for a "Cross-Cultural Studies" program involving creativity among Native American youth. Since 1989, he has been co-founder and Vice President of Earth Mother Productions, specializing in fine art ceramics. Tim's work is included in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery in Washington D.C., and has been exhibited in traveling shows curated by the Smithsonian and The American Crafts Council, as well as at the Denver Art Museum and Colorado State University. He has won awards in such prestigious international art exhibits as the XXX Concorso Internazionall Della Ceramica D'Arte Contemporanea in Italy and Ceramics International at the Academy of Ceramics in Geneva, Switzerland. His art has been featured in numerous publications, including Ceramics Monthly, The Complete Catalogue of Contemporary Crafts of the Americas, Atlantic Monthly, and The Goodfellow Catalog of Wonderful Things. Pamala Ballingham was raised in New England and studied Art Education at Green Mountain College in Vermont. She received a B.F.A. in Drawing and Painting at Utah State University (where she and Tim first met, in a pottery class), and then earned an M.C. in Counseling from the University of Phoenix in Arizona. She has taught a variety of workshops in clay since 1982, and presently runs unique workshops in creativity geared toward professional therapists, social workers, and adults recovering from loss. She is co-founder and President of Earth Mother Productions, through which she has created art and music
"As a collaborative team," the Ballinghams say, "we endeavor, in our art, to capture the 'here and now' moments that lend richness and poignancy to life. We're inspired by imagery of the natural world, using abstract compositions to depict subjects as varied as field and forest, mountain top and desert floor, and the almost-visible energy of these places. We have chosen clay as our medium because it offers such a range of opportunities for form, color, and texture -- all the way from the stage of raw, moist earth through to the fiery temperatures of the hardening process. We take particular delight in creating ceramic vessels which are reminiscent of the natural environment in which myth and legend feel most especially at home. We strive to give each piece a luscious patina born of human touch and thoughtful embellishment -- as well as a playful inner life. These vessels are made of earthenware and stoneware clays with colored porcelain slips, paints, and natural materials." Tim and Pam's mythic aesthetic and deep spirituality imbues their art with qualities that are, at once, unique and timeless. Meister Eckhart, the fourteenth-century mystic, compares our souls (and our creativity) to empty vessels, begging bowls extended outward for God and life to fill. The vessels created by the Ballinghams are apt metaphors for the lives they lead, filled with creativity and spirit. To see a wider range of their work, including their wall art and installations, please visit the Earth Mother Productions Web site, or the following two Web sites: Guild.com and Wholesale Crafts.com. Their art can also be viewed at New Dimensions Gallery, 3067 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona.
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