Chuck Solberg

Chuck Solberg is a nationally recognized clay artist based in St. Paul, MN.  His work is included in the permanent collections of the Weisman Museum of the University of Minnesota, The Minnesota Historical Society, the University of Wisconsin and numerous private collections.  He was awarded the prestigious Jerome Grant in 1996 for his work with sagger firing.
 
Chuck works with stoneware and porcelain clay to create functional table ware and large, sculptural pieces.  The larger pieces are frequently constructed from separately thrown clay sections which are joined together and then distorted by paddling.  The seams and joints from this construction process are left exposed to visually break up the surface of the piece.
 
“In both functional and sculptural work, my goal is to accent the inherent spontaneity and raw beauty of clay. Wood firing achieves this objective. Flame and ash flow through the kiln leaving unexpected patterns and rich surfaces.” 

“I work much like a jazz musician, improvising on a theme, not knowing where the improvisation will lead.  Someone asked Duke Ellington, ‘What is jazz?’  He replied, ‘It’s the sound of surprise.’  To paraphrase Ellington, I want my work to have the look of surprise – the look and feel of spontaneity.” (The Villager, Wednesday, November 30, 2005)

portrait: Christopher Felver