The Kailua Village Artists featured artist for the month of October is potter Linda Savell.
The Kailua Village Artists featured artist for the month of October is potter Linda Savell.
A native of Michigan, with a master’s degree in ceramic technology and education, Savell relocated to Hawaii Island in 1997 and continues to explore new avenues of creativity in her South Kona studio. KVA Gallery also exhibits Savell’s functional creations such as tea pots, coffee and tea cups, serving platters and decorative vases as well as her jewelry items. She fashions necklaces, pendants and earrings, using dichroic glass shapes and often incorporates ceramic forms.
All of Savell’s ceramics are made of stoneware clay, like everyday dishes and therefore can be displayed outside as well as inside. The glazed finishes are perfect for use outdoors in Hawaii as well as indoors in high humidity areas usually unsuitable for fine artwork.
Raku pottery is thought to have been developed in Japan where they typically use a white crackle glaze. In the U.S., Raku’s translation means “harmonious, tranquility, enjoyment, fun.”
During October, Savell will be displaying some of her pieces, including her white vase, Thesisparin, which was glazed with a white crackle glaze and heated in a gas kiln to about 2,000 degrees before being removed with tongs and waved in the air for the glaze to create a pattern of cracks. The hot pot was placed in its “reduction chamber” where newspaper had been placed. The carbon produced during burning seeped into the cracks to enhance the crackle pattern.
Western Raku glazes often contain cobalt, iron and other metal oxides. These produce metallic colors. Some glazes have a matte surface and others a gloss surface. Savell’s Tang has a matte surface while her Humuhumu-nukunukuapuaa and Regal Angelfish were glazed with gloss glazes.
Meet and talk story with Savell at the KVA gallery on Oct. 25 and at KVA’s 30th anniversary Celebration Reception slated 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 27.
The gallery is located at 75-5729 Alii Drive, Suite C-110, in the Kona Marketplace, in Kailua-Kona. It is open from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily.
Info: Call 329-6653.