Tom Pakele
Ceramicist
Boulder, CO, USA
Recommended by Craft in America
Teapots and totems of tikis and turtles
- Tom's Hawaiian heritage shapes who he is as an artist
- Teaching opened new creative directions for his practice
- His ceramics are shaped by glaze and material exploration
Clay has been at the centre of Tom Pakele’s life since the late 1970s. His work has been shaped by decades of experimentation, teaching and curiosity. During his studies Tom developed an interest in porcelain, carved surfaces and traditional Asian glazes such as copper red, celadon and iron saturates. Teaching has remained a constant throughout his career and continues to influence his work today. More recently, imagery connected to his Hawaiian family roots, such as turtles, tiki forms, sea life and references to island culture, has increasingly found its way into his ceramics. "This became another way to reconnect with my family history," he says. Tom also works in collaboration with fellow artist and his wife Susan Garson, in their studio at the foothills of Colorado's Rocky Mountains.
INTERVIEW
I grew up in Southern California, surrounded by a really strong ceramic scene. I started working with clay in high school. I kept coming to the studio after class, mixing clay, loading kilns and making glazes. I got deeper into the craft and never really left it behind. It became my world.
Looking back, I do not think there was one moment. I studied at Northridge and UCLA, worked with artists and teachers I admired, and began showcasing my work while still in school. Afterwards, I took part in galleries and exhibitions, and began teaching. It just kept growing until I realised the craft was my life was my life.
A few years ago, I started bringing more of my Hawaiian roots into the pieces. My dad grew up in Hawaii, and using turtles, tiki forms and sea life helps me feel connected to him. My great grandfather was a Native Hawaiian and a subject of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The heritage and bloodline of the Kanaka Maoil, Hawaiian people, are meaningful to me and part of who I am as an artist.
Teaching changed my work. Doing demos and workshops reacquainted me with hand building experimentation. I love working with students because they allow me to think about materials and process. I am always seeing things from different perspectives.
