David Crane

Growing up on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, David spent his days on the water exploring the ever-changing marine landscape. After a career working on the water his art is guided, in part, by the notion that the planet is a living entity, and his work but a small offering to the spirit that holds sway over life's adventures. Themes are often geocentric, mindful of the fundamental elements of earth, water, air, and fire. The stoneware clay, mixed with beach sand to the texture of cake icing, is spread into a large slab from which the tiles are cut, the organic shapes often creating an underlying motion within the piece.

The glazes, which include local 'native' clay, are thin layers of glass whose beauty and depth are revealed only after firing to 2200 degrees (1200C). Seafire globes are geographically accurate portrayals of the planet Earth in curved clay tile. On land, in bas-relief, are the major mountain ranges and river systems, flowing to the oceans into which are carved the continental fracture zones, currents, and tradewinds. Each globe is signed, dated, and numbered by the artist and is available in a variety of glazes in 22 inches diameter. Larger globes are available upon request. David recently received the "Best Body of Work 2010" award from the Academy Art Museum of Easton, Maryland.