Peter Voulkos (1924-2002, USA) 

Siguirilla
1999
Wood-fired Stoneware; ht.45, wd. 24.5, dp.22.5

Siguirilla, the title of this masterful stack, is taken from a particular style of flamenco: "a very jondo (deep, solemn) cante style of song that has few lyrics and lots of wailing. It must be performed with plenty of feeling and temperament. It is an austere, strict, very stylized and ritualistic dance form, and it alternates the light marking of steps with zapateados (rhythmic combinations of sounds made by stepping with the toe, sole and heel of the foot)." The choice of title was not arbitrary. Voulkos, a flamenco guitarist in his own right, was well aware of this form and its aesthetic implications. When one applies the description of the musicality of Siguirilla to this vessel, converting it into visual impact, little more needs to be said about the works composition and energy. This stack comes from a series of gigantic wood-fired pots that Voulkos made around this time from which bricks seem to tumble to earth. What is particularly interesting is comparing it to the painting Falling Red. They are not far apart in their fundamentals even though the two are separated by 40 years. Also in both each is from the top down, gravity was one of Voulkos' anchors. The shoulders of the pot slouch downward from a jaunty neck and it almost seems poised on the edge of collapse as the brick shapes slide to edge. This is one of the finest of Voulkos' late works.

Exhibited: Peter Voulkos. Frank Lloyd Gallery, Santa Monica, CA , 1999.

Reference: To compare with earlier works of this genre see: Slivka, Rose and Tsujimoto, Karen. The Art of Peter Voulkos. Tokyo and New York: Kodansha, 1995.

Excellent original condition.