David Lee Westmeier

David was a very skilled artist/potter known for functional pieces and large-scale raku tile murals. Early in his career, he created wheel thrown functional stoneware pottery with earth toned glazes fired in a gas reduction kiln. From 1985 onward, he focused on the raku firing method used in his large-scale tile murals.

David's work often featured glazes that produced a copper finish during the reduction process in the raku firing sequence. He removed pieces from the 1800F degree kiln when red hot with tongs, and placed each piece into an air-tight metal chamber filled with combustible material (typically sawdust or paper). This step reduces oxygen in the chamber's atmosphere to a minimal level; encouraging color development, especially copper hues with select glazes.

Subject matter, especially for tile murals, included fossil formations. Further information is drawn from microscopic observations of plant and aquatic life, invertebrates, and leaf detritus.

Later in David's career, raku work returned to the vessel form. Westmeier throws a variety of vessels which are alters in the leather hard stage and combined to form the ultimate object.

Formal Education:

* Louisville School of Art, Louisville, KY

* Apprenticeship and residency at Charles Counts Rising Fawn Pottery in Rising Fawn, GA

* Berea College, Berea, KY

David's Public Collections can be found in:

* Delta Airlines Crown Room, Atlanta, Georgia

* Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii

* Hotel Nikko, Beverly Hills, California

* McDonnel Douglass Information Systems Building, New York City, New York

* PGA Club House, Las Vegas, Nevada

* Unisys Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia