About James

Many of our collectors and students like to know about the people behind the art. Here is where we tell you a little about our backgrounds, interests and inspirations. If you wish to reach us to discuss a purchase, a commission, or a class or workshop proposal, feel free to do so by dropping us an email; a link is at the bottom of any page. Thanks for your interest!

Jim in the Clay Studio

Opening the raku kiln at 1800 degrees.

Pieces catch fire as they are transferred to the can for the final stage of the raku process.

JAMES KLINGER is an artist, musician, and teacher. He has a bachelor's degree in Art Education from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and he has studied at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and Sinclair College in Dayton. James' ceramic sculpture and pottery are represented in private and corporate collections in North America, Europe and Asia. He has exhibited his art in several states since 1991.

Prior careers include eight years in architectural design, eight years in secondary art education and thirty years as a professional musician. His most recent apprenticeship was with the Peruvian teacher Oscar Miro-Quesada. James is known for his long-standing relationship with raku ceramics, an ancient, Japanese art form which combines Buddhist philosophies, raku ware, and the Zen tea ceremony. Initially pulling inspiration from the East, this Midwestern artist now weaves Andean and Celtic cosmologies into a global fusion.

A passionate Ecologist, James says his work remembers the time when the mineral, plant and animal kingdom were sacred. He believes we must strive to reconnect with nature to heal ourselves and our planet.

RAKU

The ancient art of raku dates back to 16th century Japan. Originally from the Chinese, the character for raku means: "contentment, enjoyment, pleasure, and best in all the world." The first raku pottery pieces were created by an immigrant potter who was chosen by an influential Japanese tea master to produce wares of refined simplicity for the sacred Zen Buddhist tea ceremony.

Raku has been westernized over the years, but it is still, basically, the process of firing clay in an outdoor kiln to a temperature of around 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. The clay piece is then removed from the kiln with tongs and placed into a can of combustible material, such as straw. After the piece flames up, the can is covered tightly with the lid, thus depriving it of oxygen; this is called post-firing reduction. The flames seek oxygen from the clay, so they leave their colors and markings on the piece in random patterns. The colors on the finished piece reflect the interaction between the flames and the precious metals--copper and silver--in the glazes. Each raku piece is therefore unique; it is impossible for any two pieces to be the same. Raku is fragile and should be handled like glass.