Hasuyo Miller

San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts

Accession no: 2007.15.3 A-B Type of work: ceramic
Current location: Prep Room back shelf
Artist/creator: Hasuyo Miller

Artist biography: Hasuyo Miller is married to fellow ceramic artist Robert Farmer. They live and maintain studios in the desert of southern California. Hasuyo studied at North Texas State University in Denton from 1973-75. She then went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ceramics from the University of Hawaii in 1980 and a Master of Arts in ceramics in 1983 from San Jose State University in California. She has taught ceramics at Mt. San Jacinto College and Palomar College in California and at the University of Hawaii. Growing up in Hawaii, Hasuyo was inspired to create the village homes (clay village series) blending Asian, Polynesian and other tribal architectural styles. Copper wire is used to represent energy flow.

Title of work: Story Teller
Variant form(s) of title: Spirit House; from the Clay Village series
Date of item: n.d.
Signed: “Hasuyo” is etched into the clay along the bottom of the sculpture near the back.
Dimensions: 21” h x 11” w x 14” d (53.34 x 27.94 x 35.56 cm)

Description: Ceramic sculpture sitting on a wooden base. The wooden base is in the shape of a flat cart on 2 wheels. The ceramic sculpture depicts a hut or small circular building. The roof is a flat slab with a dome on top of that and on top of the dome is a curved handle-like projection out of which 7 copper spikes project. The hut itself is elliptical in shape and has a small opening in the front down low (as in a door) and another small opening in the back up high (as in a window). Two large dragons are carved into the side of the hut (somewhat raised surface). The colors are grey, brown and copper.

Material: copper, wood, white stoneware, stains, glazes
Technique: Thrown and altered combined with slab construction. Fired to cone 10.
Medium: ceramic
Country of origin: U.S.A.

Artist’s statement about work: I have used clay (whether it be porcelain, white stoneware or raku bodies) to tell stories for over thirty years. Handbuilding was my first love, but I now incorporate altered wheel thrown forms to create my sculptures that are multiple fired from 1900 to 2400 degrees F. It’s all about movement, color, texture and one thing leading to another.

Condition: Excellent condition from Condition Report dated March 19, 2009
Provenance: Gift
Donor information: John and Darlene Williams, Dallas, Texas
History of object: Purchased from the artist by John and Darlene Williams from the exhibit Different Directions: Coming Together in Clay, 2007, at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts.
Exhibitions: 2007 Different Directions: Coming Together in Clay, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, April 20 – June 27, 2007.

Cataloger name: K. Zimmerly
Date: November 24, 2010
Sources used: artist file; artist website: www.hasuyo.com