PENDLETON — Brian Purnell of Pendleton is a longtime artist whose diligence in ceramics and photography are balanced interactions between the natural material, surreal visions and wabi-sabi philosophy.
Wabi-sabi is a meditative approach to finding beauty in imperfections, which can be a complex struggle for some artists, but for Purnell, it’s a liberating and tranquil decision when deciding whether the work is finished.
Brian Purnell smooths the top of the clay Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, at the ceramics studio inside the Pendleton Center for the Arts.
Brian Purnell alternates between a number of tools Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, while working with clay at the ceramics studio inside the Pendleton Center for the Arts.
Inside the ceramics studio, Brian Purnell of Pendleton works with a variety of tools Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, at the Pendleton Center for the Arts.
Brian Purnell checks the temperature of kiln Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, and discusses how to keep an eye on the fire while the clay is baking at the ceramics studio inside the Pendleton Center for the Arts.
Brian Purnell lifts the top of the pottery kiln Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, and examines the finished products at the ceramics studio inside the Pendleton Center for the Arts.
Brian Purnell shows pottery he and his students finished Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, at the ceramics studio inside the Pendleton Center for the Arts.
Brian Purnell shows the different heights of blocks Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, at the ceramics studio inside the Pendleton Center for the Arts. The blocks are placed inside the kilns so the clays won’t overlap with one another.
Brian Purnell of Pendleton shows one of his finished ceramic bowls Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, at the ceramics studio inside the Pendleton Center for the Arts. Purnell also took a photo of the bowl and composited it on one of his street photos.
Artist Brian Purnell reflects Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, on the importance of teaching and allowing students to express themselves at the ceramics studio inside the Pendleton Center for the Arts.
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