This month, James Tan's beautiful ceramic pieces are on display in the front window at La Mano.
Recently, we asked James to speak with us about his work. Here is what he said:
"One of the things I love about La Mano is the diverse group of people that works and plays there. I'm constantly inspired by not just the more seasoned artists but also the ones who are new to pottery and see things with a fresher eye. My hope is not just to elevate my skills and artistry but also to be someone who inspires others to do the same. My teachers, Sarah Sabourin and Nic DeStefano, have both challenged me to try new things on the wheel and hand building and I enjoy both disciplines equally. Jonathan Bergman, my partner, is my biggest inspiration. His enthusiasm reminds me of the possibilities that working in clay has to offer and it's because of him that I started studying pottery again after a 7-year hiatus.
"Working with clay allows me to create with my hands, whichis what advertising art direction (what I do during my day job) used to do before the advent of the computer. I feel I've grown leaps and bounds in the year I've spent at La Mano but feel that there's yet still so much more to learn. May that feeling never go away!"
