Going to Ground

I started making pots in 1970 and after a 20 year hiatus, began again at Women’s Studio Workshop in 2003. Hand-building is what I’m drawn to. I’ve had several inspiring teachers along the way and many sculptor/potters I’ve looked to for ideas and possibilities.The artifacts of the potters of ancient civilizations attracted me from childhood museum trips. Later in life, as a performer, teacher and persistent traveler I took the opportunity everywhere I landed to look at and buy ceramics: from highly decorated East Indian and Mexican tiles and containers to Swiss and German mid-century art pottery to classic Native American bowls. Most likely it’s the bowls from Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico which I saw in 1975 that sent me into an ongoing pursuit of ‘pinch pots.’ It’s a lowly name for these pueblo traditions.

Nat Thomas is a Margaretville-based artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, collage, and quilt-making. He earned a BFA in printmaking from Louisiana State University in 1973 and pursued graduate work in sculpture and theater at LSU. His work has been featured in solo shows at Roxbury Arts Group, Chace-Randall Gallery (Andes), Erpf Gallery (Catskill Center), Enderlin Gallery (Roxbury), and Hopper House Art Center (Nyack). A founding member of Longyear Gallery, Thomas also serves on the Catskill Mountain Artisans Guild and the ARC of Delaware County boards.