Malcolm Davis

Malcolm Davis is internationally recognized for his work with shino-type glazes. He works exclusively in porcelain with the goal of making fresh, spirited, graceful pots for daily use, searching for fluidity and clarity of form within the context of function. The style of his work and the nature of the forms are simple and fluid. In his search for glazes that would not compete with the form, but allow the pot to assert its own life and liveliness, he began to experiment with Shino glazes and developed a red Shino that bears his name and is loved, feared, revered and attempted by potters all over the world. Malcolm Davis has been a full-time studio potter since 1984 when he left his previous life as campus minister. He took his first ceramics class in 1974 and since 1985 has maintained his mountaintop studio in Upshur County, WV. He is internationally recognized for his work with shino-type glazes, specifically for the creation of a unique shino-type formula with a high concentration of soluble soda ash, which encourages the trapping of carbon in the early stages of the firing.

Education:

1974 First Ceramics Class, DC Department of Recreation

1977-79 The George Washington University, Washington, DC

1974-76 The Corcoran School of Art, Washington, DC

1959-64 Union Theological Seminary, New York City, New York: Master of Divinity

1962-63 University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Certificate in Theological Studies; Rotary International Fellow

1955-59 The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia; B.S. in Mathematics; Phi Beta Kappa

http://www.mudfire.com/malcolm-davis-am08.htm

1937Born, Newport News, Virginia

2012Died, Washington, DC

EDUCATION

1955-1959BS Mathematics, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia

1959-1964Master of Divinity, Union Theological Seminary, New York, New York

1962-1963Theological Studies University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

1974Ceramics Class, Department of Recreation, Washington, D.C.

1974-1976Corcoran School of Art, Washington, D.C.

1977-1979George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1981-2012Studio potter, Upshur County, West Virginia

RESIDENCIES AND APPRENTICESHIPS

1980Year-long residency, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, Maryland

Malcolm Davis is internationally recognized for his work with shino-type glazes. His search for glazes that would not compete with the form led him to a red shino glaze, discovered while at the Baltimore Clayworks. It took him over a year to perfect his technique which involved starving the kiln of oxygen to create smoke. This glaze is often called “Malcolm’s shino.” He shared the formula for this glaze and it quickly became a sensation in the pottery world. He worked exclusively in porcelain making pots for daily use that were well designed within the context of function.

Davis first touched clay in 1974 at age 37 and became a full-time studio potter in 1984 when he left his previous career as a campus minister. His work was inspired by diverse folk traditions from early Korean to Native American pottery.

Public Collections

Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York

Mobach Collection, Utrecht, Holland

Museum of Arts and Design, New York, New York

Sarah Lawrence College, Twentieth Century Collection, Bronxville, New York

Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art, Alfred University, Alfred, New York

Bibliography

Britt, John. The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes. Asheville, NC: Lark Crafts, 2007.

Burleson, Mark. The Ceramic Glaze Handbook. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 2001.

Coates, Michelle. Creative Pottery: A Step-by-Step. Rockport, MA: Rockport Publishers, 1998.

Davis, Don. Wheel - Thrown Ceramics: Altering, Trimming, Adding, Finishing. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 1998.

Fina, Angela and Jonathan Fairbanks. The Best of Pottery. Rockport, MA: Rockport Publishers, 1996.

Hluch, Kevin A. The Art of Contemporary American Pottery. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2001.

Hopper, Robin. Functional Ceramics. Westerville, OH: The American Ceramic Society, 2008.

____________. Making Marks: Discovering the Ceramic Surface. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2004.

Rhodes, Daniel. Clay and Glazes for the Potter. Southborough, MA: Chilton Book Co., 1973.

Richter, Lester. American Shino: The Glaze of a Thousand Faces. Gilroy, CA: Chameleon Books, 2003.

Tourtillott, Suzanne. 500 Teapots: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 2002.

_______________. 500 Cups: Ceramic Explorations of Utility and Grace. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 2005.

Williams, Gerry. "Interview with Malcolm Davis: Shino Warrior." The Studio Potter 32, no.1 (December 2003).

Woodhead, Steve. The Teapot Book. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005.

Zakin, Richard. Ceramics – Mastering the Craft. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2001.