I love to visit someone’s home and see how he or she is living with a piece that I created. This experience is my main motivation for creating pottery. In order to facilitate these interactions, my goal is to make pottery that is beautiful and functional. When visiting someone’s home in China, I observed, while having tea, that there is a wonderful interaction between the people and the pottery. During this social time, every participant considers the other first, by making sure no one is forgotten. You never have to fill your own cup. When we participated in this activity, I reflected upon the idea that the pottery could influence the social interaction; even if only in a subconscious way. As I build my own pieces, this idea influences what I create. Since returning from teaching in China, I chose to focus on the teapot. I am interested in contrasting fluidness and tightness, curves and angles, smooth and rough textures. I desire to make pieces that could change a routine into a ritual. Artist Statement
 
Bio Darin R. Gehrke, a native of Robesonia, PA, currently lives in New York City.   He is a studio potter with the TriBeCa Potters and teaches advanced adult ceramic classes at the Educational Alliance Art School. Previously, Darin taught ceramics and sculpture at The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Keystone Oaks High School for seven years. In the fall of 2003, Darin and his wife, Cherington, moved to Guangzhou, China. Darin researched Chinese ceramics and the disappearing hillside potteries. For the Chinese National Day celebration, he demonstrated techniques at the Nan Feng Dragon Kiln in Shiwan, Guangdong Province, China.   Darin received his B.S. in Art Education with a focus in Ceramics from The Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA. While in the Art Education program, Darin studied ceramics with Chris Staley who provided him a strong foundation in the medium.
News • Darin recently received a Judge’s Choice Award at the 2008 Mount Gretna Juried Art Show in Mount Gretna, PA. • A limited number of pieces will be sold through my new online store at Etsy.com. There are just a few pieces for sale now, but keep checking for new pots to come. www.drgceramics.etsy.com • Darin’s pottery can now be found at Peiffer’s General Store in Bethel, Pennsylvania. The store is a great place to find interesting antiques and other locally made goods. Peiffer’s General Store 8495 Lancaster Ave. Bethel, PA 19507 717-933-7094 http://www.mtgretnaarts.com/index.phphttp://www.drgceramics.etsy.com/http://www.drgceramics.etsy.comhttp://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=Peiffer's+General+Store&near=8495+Lancaster+Ave.,+Bethel,+PA+19507&sll=40.772222,-75.907288&sspn=1.156485,2.131348&ie=UTF8&z=16&om=1shapeimage_5_link_0shapeimage_5_link_1shapeimage_5_link_2shapeimage_5_link_3