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T H E N O N - C O M P E T I T I V E
D I S P L A Y
D I S P L A Y
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D U A L I T Y
GAYLE FIATO
New York, USA 2024 8 x 6 x 7 inches Clay, Hand Sculpted Wood Fired, Cone 10, Fully Vitrified A bonsai stands in quiet resolve. Nearby drifts an abstract, two-headed dragon—its form evoking breath, smoke, and wind. One head whispers stillness, the other, change. Echoing the many-headed Yamata no Orochi from Japanese myth, this dragon is no monster, but a reflection of dual forces—organic, formless, and reverent. Between it and the tree lies the tension that shapes growth.
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A B O U T G A Y L E F I A T O
Nearly 50 years ago, I took a few ceramics classes in college—not out of passion, but mostly to qualify for free daycare for my daughter. Clay didn’t capture me then. Life moved on, and so did I. Years later, as retirement neared, I stumbled upon a wood kiln just a few miles from home. I visited during a firing, curious. Bought some clay. Got my hands muddy. Took a shift at the kiln. That was the beginning.
Now, I’m completely drawn in—fueled by process, with minimal training and modest skill—and still hesitate to call myself an artist. What I do have is a Wabi Sabi sensibility—an organic aesthetic rooted in simplicity and quiet imperfection. The work that satisfies me most begins when the clay feels right in my hands—when it invites touch, twist, and tension within its natural limits. In return, I treat it gently. I avoid chemicals, choosing instead to honor the clay with the warmth of wood fire. I use a variety of clays, ashes, woods, and minerals—transforming them into vessels meant to hold living trees. Nature has been my teacher. Her lessons are folded into every piece. Follow Gayle Fiato on these platforms: Facebook: www.facebook.com/gayle.fiato Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiatogayle/ |
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T H A N K Y O U T O O U R S P O N S O R S
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D I S C O V E R P O T T E R S I S P R O U D T O S P O N S O R T H E 2 0 2 5 N O R T H A M E R I C A N B O N S A I P O T T E R Y C O M P E T I T I O N
