Gerald Arrington
Stoneware Ceramics

Gerry Arrington, stoneware ceramist, resides in Sebastopol, Sonoma County. He is a life-long fly fisherman and student of nature.

“The sensual forms of river stones have been a source of inspiration throughout my life. I have held, examined, stacked, skipped and frequently taken them home. I began creating my own stones out of clay as homage to a summer spent on The Big Wood River in central Idaho. Creating these stones has now become a passion.

While researching and developing the forms, I became more aware of the symbolism and other cultural influences associated with stones. As a result, I have a growing appreciation for the calming and meditative effects these forms embody.

As a means of more actively engaging the viewer in a dialog with the work, I began exploring trompe l’oeil (trick-of-the-eye) ceramics. At first the viewer may dismiss my work as being “just rocks.” On closer look however, the viewer may see that they are actually ceramic. These trompe l’oeil ceramics encourage the viewer to examine the work beyond its perceived usefulness as an object; presenting an invitation to look deeper at the purely sensual aspects of that thing: form, surface, texture, presence.”