Photo: Courtesy of Miri Kaiser
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
I loved to sing and draw as a kid, but I really began to take my artistic life more “seriously” at the age of 18. I fell in love with charcoal and lead sketching and enrolled at Betzalel for the semester. Eventually that led me back to the States where I continued to study Visual Art at Parsons and The Art Students League of New York. Painting and drawing has always been something I’ve thoroughly enjoyed, but it was nothing like when I finally met the potter’s wheel. It’s a long, slow story that trailed me from New York, to Los Angeles, to Mitzpe Ramon, and now Jaffa, Tel Aviv where I’m studying at the Benyamini Ceramics Center.
My other love is nature, and working with clay just feels so natural, working my hands through heaps of earthy clay. It’s also a very meditative process for me, and I learn a tremendous amount from working with clay and on the wheel. It’s taught me the importance of centering, of patience, and of process, just to name a few.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I am a devout believer in the creative process. I don’t think I’ve ever been inspired to become an artist. I am inspired to create in order to touch people. But I also always need to have my hands busy and I love beautiful things, so yalla. Art
What is your specialty?
Nearly all my artistic energy is focused towards pottery these days, though with corona, I’ve been spending some more time with spoon carving and watercolors.
How and where do you work?
All the magic happens at my school studio, Benyamini Ceramics. Though I do hope to get my own wheel and kiln very soon. Once I’m at my wheel, I can go for hours. I completely lose track of time. On Mondays, I’m there for literally 9 hours and I have to remember to take breaks otherwise I throw out my back.
What is the most indispensable item in your workshop?
The pottery wheel.
Where do you take your inspiration? Are you pursuing any themes?
Sometimes I’m inspired by quotes that I’ll etch into my work. Sometimes I’m inspired by coffee shop-ers and I’ve drawn them onto my work as well. I’m often inspired by nature, and innovative Jewish themes and interesting, alternative Judaica. Also looking at other potters’ work. It’s really moving to see the art of fellow ceramicists.
Do you do bespoke work?
Yes. Most recently I made a dinner set for my friend that is a chef, and next is a pair of candlesticks.
What projects are you currently working on?
I’m always in middle of a number of projects at the same time, but for one, I’m in middle of creating a porcelain netilat yadayim
What are your favourite items in your current collection?
I totally fell in love with the delicacy of porcelain clay when I started working with it last year. So almost everything I have in porcelain, I’m into it.
How do you know when a piece is finished?
This is a fun question, because I don’t really get to decide. The clay very clearly lets me know. It’s like, stop working on me, I’m droopy and cracking, and just stop. And I’m like, augh fine.
What was the first artwork you ever sold?
I once did a painting of my great great grandfather and a distant relative bought a print of it.
Which project have you enjoyed working on the most so far?
I recently started working with larger amounts of clay and really challenging the usual size and shape of the things I make. So that’s been really fun to enter this new terrain.
What do you want to achieve with your work and what are your wishes for the future?
It’s really cool for me to create art the people can actually use, and what I really want is to create these objects that allow people to do the things they always do, drink coffee, enjoy a bowl of soup, but to do it in a way that’s a bit more beautiful, more intentional. Like a poem to start your day on your morning mug. I also want to start experimenting a lot more and recreating those familiar objects in our lives, offering a new way to look at old things.
Where can we find your work?
I’ve finally just set up Instagram, and just getting used to posting. So most of my stuff isn’t up yet, but you can find me at @mirelkaiser
Photos: Courtesy of Miri Kaiser
