Woodworking legend Sam Maloof passes away several months ago, now the ceramic world has lost one of its true legends. Otto Heino joined his wife Vivika in that great kiln yard in the sky today. He passed away at the ripe old age of 94, and was the self-proclaimed "oldest, richest potter in the world". It's true, the brother was swimming in money. The world clamored for his work, paying up to $25,000 for his signature pots, and supposedly, $75,000 for a five-gallon bucket of his signature yellow glaze.
According to legend, the massive influx of money to his bank accounts led federal agents to suspect something fishy was going on. They found out he was dealing in a different kind of pot. By all accounts, money didn't change Heino--I never met him, but I heard great things from people who visited him at his home and studio in Ojai, California, which was once the studio of Ojai's other (in)famous potter, Beatrice Wood.
I did get to see a retrospective of Otto's work last year in Los Angeles, and I came away completely charmed. Heino was a true alchemist of glaze. He specialized in simple, modern, elegant forms such as simple bowls, but made them transcendent through his signature glazing and (high temperature) firing. He had an incredible life, and is one of those rare cases where a deserving artist actually got the attention he deserved while he was alive. Otto Heino won't be forgotten now that he's gone, either.
Saw recently a film called "Beatrice Wood: Mama of Dada" on teh Documentary Channel. A fascinating movie indeed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-vYn6zLfZk
Welcome home, Garth.
Posted by: vz-nostalgia | July 19, 2009 at 10:00 PM