Author: Andie Freeman
Header image: Ken Sedberry working on rabbit sculpture in the studio (L) and Galen Sedberry in front a wood kiln (R). Photos by Galen Sedberry
Ken Sedberry left the urban life of Washington, D.C., and found a home in the western mountains of North Carolina more than 36 years ago. Inspired by nature, he uses the firing process to bring color out of the glaze in his pottery. “My work for the past 52 years has focused on achieving vibrant colors at stoneware temperatures,” Ken told us. “With the development of chambered climbing kilns came decorative stoneware and porcelain. Much of my work comes out of this tradition. However, I’ve always felt that there’s a range of color at these temperatures that few people have explored. I use various resist techniques to contrast glazes in both color and texture.”
Galen Sedberry creates pottery alongside his father in their Burnsville studio. Having grown up among kilns and crafted pottery his entire life, Galen is developing his own body of work and finding inspiration in nature, as well. “Growing up the son of a potter, I was handling pots as soon as I graduated from a bottle. Our cabinets were stacked with work collected over the years—pots made by my dad and his peers and friends.” With a lifetime of exposure to this art form, Galen considers the process of firing a collaboration between the artist and the kiln. “Currently, I am investigating the possibilities between deliberate surface decoration and the limitless variables derived from wood firing. I want my imagery to evoke themes of movement and energy, an aesthetic that I rely on the firing process to deliver. Painted with a stained porcelain slip, the lines and brush marks that make up the imagery on my pots are initially controlled but static. It is only after the application of ash glaze and the chaos of the wood firing atmosphere that the pots take on new life and create surfaces that come alive.”
When Hurricane Helene swept through their home and studio along the Toe River, the rhythms of life were upended. Electricity was unavailable for almost a month, making creative work impossible. The devastation of the landscape made cleanup a priority, so they worked to clear downed trees on their property and in the surrounding area.
Ken and Galen found hope by working with others to recover. “We noticed right away how much our community banded together and went above and beyond to take care of one another,” Galen said. “We had neighbors with a generator who offered showers and reprieve to anyone. We have neighbors who drove from South Carolina to deliver crucial fuel and food. We witnessed selfless acts of kindness and generosity again and again that formed a sharp contrast to the devastation we saw all around us. If there was a silver lining to the storm, it was certainly the restoration of our faith in humanity to step up and take care of one another when we really needed it. Our community bonded together. A deep appreciation still lingers from the many acts of kindness. Neighbors, friends, churches, and even strangers gave both comfort and hope to this area.”
As the first anniversary of the storm approaches, Ken and Galen are producing new work and preparing for the typically busy fall and holiday market period. Although it was challenging to refocus, they found renewal in creating again. Getting back to the kiln was a significant moment. “The first firing after the storm was special. It signaled a coming back. It wasn’t easy, but it was deeply satisfying,” Ken said.
Being in practice with the work after the disruption of the storm became part of the challenge and process of creation. “Getting new work to move forward has never been easy,” Ken said. “On the one hand, we bring all of our past experiences and skills. On the other hand, we have all our expectations of what we want the work to be. The sweet spot between these two is a place of freedom to create with curiosity and concentration. It requires a willingness to be comfortable with what is uncomfortable. It is a baffling yet fertile place to work. The discomfort every storm carries with it also brings the promise of new possibilities. We are grateful for the many years we have worked in clay and the storms that have come and gone.”
As the fall approaches, the artists have a lot to look forward to. “Most recently, I have been working on a new body of work: animal sculptures, thrown and altered,” Ken said. “The idea of lifting the images off the pots and into three dimensions has been gestating for a long time. Layering slips and glazes that crackle and move and firing them in a wood kiln has been an exciting new direction.” In October, the pair will participate in the Spruce Pine Potters Market, which was canceled last year because of the hurricane. “This is a show that we are heavily involved in and is always a highlight of our year not just because of the quality of work there, but also because we get to commune with our fellow organizers and community at large,” Galen told us.
The artists are grateful for the opportunity to move forward in their work this year. “If nothing else, the experiences from the past year bring into focus the delicate nature of this life. We don’t know how much time we have or what curve balls might be thrown our way, so we may as well be brave with our work, take risks, and enjoy every moment.”