Salmon Ceramics
These pages are an online catalogue which show a range of
my ceramic work, both old & new. The site will be updated at intervals
as new work is created.There are 3 main sections – Ornamental, Product & Sculptural – featuring
pieces which are representitive of my work.I very much hope you will enjoy
looking through these pages and if you wish to view my work in person, please
contact me to arrange a viewing at my studio.Stephen Salmon
October 2008
Manifesto“Artyfacts – Purpose: Unknown; Origin: Unknown”
Over the years of making ceramics, I have developed a love of medieval arms
and armour, along with objects of religious devotion from the same period.
I have made numerous pieces, ranging from small sculptures to large uplighters & candle
wall-torches which, I hope, express something of those dark times in European
history
In the background, there has always been my passion for things astronimical,
futuristic and technological. In my series “Purpose: Unknown; Origin: Unknown” I
have sought to give my work the impression of recently-discovered ancient artifacts,
perhaps technological devices or objects used in various unknown rituals, their
exact origin and purpose left to the speculation and imagination of the observer.
This, for me, brings together both the ancient and the futuristic into the
present, indicating the three periods of time. Visions of our universe have
also served to inspire me greatly, along with humanity’s efforts to reach out and explore the so-called ‘final
frontier’: The barren, yet beautiful landscapes of the Moon; the majesty
and mystery of our other planetary neighbours; the magnificent forms and miriad
colours of galaxies and nebulae. The works are made through a combination of
hand-building techniques with some impressed and stippled surface decoration.
I utilise grogged stoneware clay bodies, matt stoneware glazes & colouring oxides on most pieces to
achieve an 'earthy', just-excavated look, to give the work the appearance of
having been eroded over time and thus, conjuring a sense of quiet mystery.
On others, I use a selection of earthenware industrial glazes which I find
produce the ‘special effects’ I am looking for.Stephen Salmon
October 2008
Discovered
Artefacts – Exhibition of Ceramics
Pulkra, 293
Fulham Road, SW10 9PZNewspaper
Review by George Saviddes For Parikiaki Greek
newspaper (English
Section) Stephen Salmon
is a talented and a very promising artist whose small but perfectly crafted
ceramics exhibition features some highly original pieces of work. His love
for medieval arms, armour and objects of religious devotion from the same
period are evident influences in his work.
He has a passion
for things astronomical, futuristic and technological and his small sculptures
and candle wall-torches express something of those dark times in European history.
His work is simple but striking and his objects have great depth and appear to
be timeless.ONE MAN SHOWS
04 Feb 2008 – (ongoing)
Discovered Artefacts
Pulkra Gallery
283 Fulham Road London SW10 9PZ
12-15 July 2006
New Collections
Troubadour Gallery
263-267 Old Brompton Road London SW5 9JA
Credits and Acknowledgements
Each of us, if we are fortunate enough, has one or more individuals who have
positively influenced our growth and development in our childhood, adolescence
and adulthood. Rather than the members of one’s closer family who, normally,
are naturally most concerned for us, I refer to those of our extended family,
our friends and, perhaps, one or two ‘special’ or ‘favourite’ teachers
in school or college, and in life.
I regard myself as having been very fortunate indeed in this respect and so,
on this page, I should like to acknowledge those who have been there to help
me, who have there to help guide me, especially when my steps were faltering
and I could have so very easily stumbled and fallen onto paths far less happy
than those one I have trodden until now. These persons may also be known in Japanese
Buddhist terminology as shoten
zenjin, or ‘benevolent and protective
entities’. Having said that, however, there are, I suspect, far too many
to name individually here, also because there have been those who have cared
for my welfare, from near and from afar, in the background, so to speak, quiet
and modest, wishing only for my wellbeing and happiness, without seeking personal
public praise or great reward. For those people who may read this, you
will recognise who you are and, hopefully, will know that I am a better person
than I might otherwise have been but for the caring action you took. To all of
you, I extend my most heartfelt gratitude here, even if I have not expressed
the same to you personally before. Indeed, there will be some who are no longer
living and so will never get to read these, my dear father, Christopher and my
dear mother, Nella, to name but two. However, I am sure that, because of our
deep connection, they feel what I feel, and thus understand my warm gratitude
and respect toward them.
However, I should like to mention a few people to whom I am especially grateful;
for their love, their friendship, their patient and compassionate guidance:
Roy Gluckstein
Roger & Erika Salmon
Jeremy Salmon
Jean Mortimer (my original pottery teacher at school, without whom I may never
have discovered a love of making things in clay).
Paul Gray (of Wandsworth Adult College, who gave me the essential opportunity
and encouragement to stay and improve my ceramic skills for long after I had
completed the Ceramics Diploma course and before I had gained enough confidence
to finally apply to do an MA in Ceramics at the University of the Arts
at Camberwell).
Rita (Di Santo), my loving wife since 2001, for all her caring support, encouragement
and example.
Finally, I should like to single out for most special mention the person who
has been my Sensei (jap. ‘teacher’) and ‘mentor in life’ these
last 20 years, from whom I have learnt – and, hopefully, continue to learn
- so much, every day, and to whom I owe an eternal debt of gratitude: His name
is Daisaku
Ikeda, the President of Soka Gakkai
International (SGI) ('Value Creating
Society'), a foremost thinker, philosopher, poet and humanistic educator of this
age. I have neither sufficient words nor space here to describe the importance
of this truly great human being, or to describe the enormity of his compassion,
wisdom and determination for the happiness of all humanity, both now and long
into the distant future. There are many quotes from his writings that I would
wish to share with you in these pages (see Inspirations (link) page), but for
reasons of available space, I have had to be selective.
Along with my beloved Sensei, I also proffer my immense thanks to my ‘comrades
in faith’, my fellow practitioners of Nichiren
Daishonin’s Buddhism in the SGI,
who have made such incredible efforts to support and encourage my faith over
the years and who have helped me to become as happy as I am today.
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, nam-myoho-renge-kyo!
Stephen Salmon
April 2008
The Creative Life (extract)
You must never slacken in your efforts to build new lives for yourselves. Creativeness
means pushing open the heavy door to life. This is not an easy struggle.
Indeed, it may be the hardest task in the world. For opening the door to
your own life is more difficult than opening the doors to the mysteries of the
Universe. But the act of opening your door vindicates your existence as a human
being and makes life worth living. No-one is lonelier or unhappier than
the person who does not know the pure joy of creating a life for himself. To
be human is not merely to stand erect and manifest reason and intellect: To
be human in the full sense of the word is to lead a creative life. The
fight to create a new life is a truly wonderful thing, revealing radiant wisdom,
the light of intuition that leads to an understanding of the Universe, the strong
will of justice and a determination to challenge all attacking evils, the compassion
that enables you to take upon yourself the sorrows of others, and a sense of
union with the energy of compassion gushing forth from the cosmic source of life
and creating an ecstatic rhythm in the lives of all men. As you challenge
adversity and polish the jewel that is life, you will learn to walk the supreme
pathway of true humanity. He who leads a creative life from the present
into the future will stand in the vanguard of history. I think of this
flowering of the creative life as the human revolution that is your mission now
and throughout your lives.
Daisaku Ikeda, President, Soka Gakkai International
A Poem
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy,
The chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there
Is one elementary truth - ignorance of which kills
Countless ideas and splendid plans:
That the moment one definitely commits oneself,
Then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issue from the decision, raising in one's favour all
manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no
man could have dreamed would have come his way.
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and imagination in it.
Begin it now.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe / William Hutchinson Murray
A Presidential Opinion
“It is not the critic who counts,
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of
deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in
the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives
valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms,
the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows
in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at
least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those
cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt, US President
A Poem
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented & fabulous?
Actually, who are we NOT to be?...
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you...
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission
to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others…
Marianne Williamson
Sites
of Interest
British Interplanetary Society (BIS)
www.bis-spaceflight.com
Camberwell College Of Art London
http://www.camberwell.arts.ac.uk/
David Robinson, 3D spacecraft modeller/artist
http://www.bambam131.com/
London Potters
http://www.londonpotters.com/
Pulkra Wellbeing For Body & Spirit
www.pulkra.com
Soka Gakkai International UK (SGI-UK)
http://www.sgi-uk.org/
Wandsworth Adult College
http://www.locallife.co.uk/wandsworth/
adulteducation3.asp