Jim Whalen

EDUCATION

1970 BFA Art, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1971 Paradox Pottery

—Teacher, Charlotte, North Carolina

Jim Whalen is known for his use of unrefined yellow clay for his wheel thrown open vessel and covered jar forms. Before firing the pots are burnished and coated with terra sigillata. 

Whalen explains his firing method:, “I invented the ‘Paradox Process’ back around 2000. It involves combining 2 firing processes on a pot, a low temp salt firing followed by a sawdust firing. The effects of each firing are separated into distinct areas by wax resist creating definition to the patterns without losing the vitality of chaos.”

Public Collections

The Mint Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina

City of Mesa, Mesa, Arizona

Rocky Mount Art Museum, Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Bibliography

Whalen, Susan and Jim Whalen. "Collaborative Throwing". Ceramics Monthly 44, no. 2 (February 1996).

Paradox Pottery

Southern Highland Craft Guild