Vertical Torque, Ember

Mason helped revolutionize clay under the tutelage of Peter Voulkos at Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, California in the 1950s. This revolution was responsible for changing ceramics from totally utilitarian works of clay to fine art. Abstract Expressionism directly influenced the artists involved in this change in ceramics. Many museums contain Mason?s works in their permanent collections including the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, Missouri; the Renwick Gallery, Washington, D.C.; the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.; and the American Craft Museum in New York, New York. Vertical Ember Torque is part of a series by Mason that exudes strength and beauty. The hand-built work conveys the massive energy and strength employed by the artist to twist and manipulate the clay. The resulting totemic sculpture closely resembles a twisted steel beam.