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Marc Hansen

Marc Hansen

(d. 1975) lived in Kalamazoo, MI
Bottle, 1975
porcelain, crystal glaze, 8 ¾ x 6 x 5 ¾ inches, 93.39.19

In the spring of 1971, under the auspices of the International Academy of Ceramics, the Tennessee Arts Commission pledged its support for the promotion and establishment of the U.S. International Ceramic Symposiums. The Symposium’s mission to help develop a worldwide network of support for ceramic art was achieved by bringing together top ceramic artists from around the world for a month-long sharing of ideas and creation of innovative ceramics.

A close-up, black-and-white side profile of an older person wearing glasses and using a precision tool to work on a small object, with a focused expression and a plain background.        A man wearing glasses and a checked shirt carefully shapes a ceramic object with a small tool, focusing intently on his work.

Left: Hanson trimming a bottle. Right: Photo of Hansen from the 1975 ICS catalogue Additional images below

Hansen represented the United States at the Second U.S. International Ceramic Symposium, which consisted of twelve artists from seven different countries, and was hosted in the summer of 1975 at the Arrowmont School of Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN. At the Symposium, Hansen provided a counterpoint to the more free-form and low-tech methods of the other participants by utilizing a highly technical and methodical approach. Using an electric kiln and a precise firing schedule, he fired several traditional porcelain bottle shapes in exquisite crystalline glazes. His process for creating these crystalline glazes started with a Hansen’s own special fired and ground glaze composition that contains little to none alumina, which would then be applied to the bottle up to one-inch thick, with the bottles placed over a bowl to catch the runoff during firing. He would start the firing with a rapid advance to a high temperature, and then dramatically drop the temperature for four hours to allow crystals to grow, creating the effect of having crystals suspended within the smooth form.

Well known for his beautiful crystalline glazes, Hansen developed his expertise with such glazes from Herbert Sanders, teacher and author of the book Glazes for Special Effects. A professor of art at Western Michigan University, Hansen continued to research ceramic glazes and formulate his own frits.

Hansen exhibited at the Syracuse Ceramic Nationals in the 1950s-60s and appeared in the fifth edition of Ceramics: A Potter’s Handbook by Glenn C. Nelson.  His work has shown widely nationally and internationally, including at institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, the Dayton Art Institute, and the University of Michigan. Sadly, Hansen passed away due to a cardiac event about six months after the 1975 Symposium.

Written by Aiden Layer, TN Arts Intern

A tall, smooth, cream-colored ceramic vase with a narrow neck and light tan floral patterns scattered across its surface, set against a plain background.     A round, egg-shaped ceramic vase with a small narrow opening, featuring a glossy cream surface decorated with large, circular yellow crystalline patterns. The background is a plain, neutral gray.     A round, beige ceramic vase with a narrow neck, decorated with light, flower-like crystal patterns on its glossy surface, placed on a gray background.

Left: Bottle, 1975, crystal-glazed porcelain, 13.5 x 4 x 4 inches, 93.39.46 Center: Bottle, 1975, crystal-glazed porcelain, 9.25 x 6 x 6 inches, 93.39.47   Right: Bottle, 1975, crystal-glazed porcelain, 5 x 3 x 3 inches, 93.39.122