|
T H E C O N T E M P O R A R Y D I S P L A Y
|
F R E D
T H E T R E E Contemporary Unglazed KIT RUSEAU
Maryland, USA 2025 6.5 x 7.5 x 5.5 inches Commercial White Clay, Coarse Grog, Slip, Oxide Washes Slab Built Reduction Fired to Cone 11 "Fred the Tree is the inspiration behind this work, a nonnative Casuarina tree that defies all odds by growing on an abandoned bridge connecting the Florida Keys to the mainland (shown below). To the local community, Fred has become a symbol of hope and resilience, withstanding blistering heat, saltwater, and the force of hurricanes, including Irma, with an 8-foot storm surge and 132 mph winds.
Moved by Fred’s story and attracted to the weathered surface of the bridge, I sought to create a pot for a Cosmic Casuarina or look alike to honor Fred the Tree. I used a white clay body with coarse grog, layered slips, and washes to evoke the patina of aged concrete. The pot was slab-built and high-fired in a reduction atmosphere. This piece is a tribute to endurance in unlikely places. The tree and pot together would tell a story of survival, strength, and the quiet beauty that emerges from adversity. Fred the Tree embodies what it means to be Florida Strong." - Kit Ruseau |
|
|
|
|
A B O U T K I T R U S E A U
I’ve been working with clay for over 30 years. My first bonsai pots were entered in the 2015 Third National Bonsai Exhibition and won awards. Since then, I’ve focused on crafting unique pots that honor the tree and act as a quiet partner in the living art of bonsai.
Follow Kit Ruseau on these platforms: Facebook: www.facebook.com/kit.ruseau Instagram: www.instagram.com/mudpidog/?hl=en |
|
T H A N K Y O U T O O U R S P O N S O R S
|
|
|
|
|
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
