Queens Row Revolutions of the Wheel Logo

Revolutions of the WheelPart 3 - Peter Voulkos and the Otis Group

Home
The Film
Ceramic Art
Ceramic Art In America
Archie Bray Foundation
Peter Voulkos
Robert Arneson
Contemporary Ceramists
American Ceramics
Video Excerpts
Video Pricing & Ordering
DVD Pricing & Ordering
Ceramic Art Links
Queens Row Logo

Soldner In 1953 Peter Voulkos was offered a teaching position at what was later to become the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. Upon arriving there, he found an empty room in the basement of the school with a few tables and a sink. When his first student, Paul Soldner, arrived, they set about building their own equipment and began what became one of the top ceramic programs in the country.

Students and potters made pilgrimages to Los Angeles during this time to witness the Voulkos inspired clay revolution and to sign on to the program. Voulkos says of his teaching style, "I didn't know much about teaching but I knew enough about freedom to leave their asses alone."

Throw
Studio

Classes were unstructured and often Voulkos would sit in his office playing Flamenco guitar until evening. After dark the creative juices would flow and students would find themselves working along side Voulkos, going through 4,000 pounds of clay, or more, in one night.

Voulkos with work

Pete's work was changing very rapidly at this time, combining painting, sculpture and clay into a single art form. Initially met with rejection and resistance, Voulkos  persevered, feeding off the resistance and stubbornly following the path he had chosen as his personal means of expression.

Voulkos plat



Queens Row Logo designed by Eric Bowman

Please send all inquires to: info@queensrow.org

This site validates to W3C standards and is Hosted by Cedant

If you experience any problems with this website please email: webmaster@queensrow.org


All Designs, Logos, & Copy are copyright Queens Row 1997-98.
Photographs video captured from Revolutions of the Wheel are copyright Queens Row 1997.
Use of any images without the express written permission of Queens Row will be considered copyright infringement and is punishable by law.