Mark Issenberg

The pottery of Mark Issenberg will be featured at MudFire Pottery Center in an exhibit from October 2-27, 2003. An artist reception will be held Thursday, October 2 from 6:00 to 10:00 pm. Raised in Florida, Mark recently returned to Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia, where as a young man he learned his craft working alongside the legendary potter and author Charles Counts. Mark's sturdy functional ware earns it's place on the pedestal with absolutely stunning ash glaze finishes.

About Mark Issenberg

Mark Issenberg began making pottery in 1965, and several years later met Charles Counts, a nationally known potter and author of several classic pottery books. Counts recruited Issenberg out of high school for his summer apprenticeship program. Issenberg went on to earn a BFA in Ceramics from the University of South Florida, and returned as an intern production potter working alongside Counts. Mark then returned to Florida where he continued his clay work, became a firefighter, and started raising exotic plants. He began using ash glazes in 1992 after Hurricane Andrew, using ash from trees that fell during the storm. (text continues below...)

He melted many pots to kiln shelves as he developed his technique and glaze recipes. Mark recently returned to the north Georgia mountains, to build a home and studio next door to where he studied with Counts in his youth.

Today his level of control over the drips and runs of the ash glaze is unparalleled. He attains absolutely magnificent finishes, lush with texture, shimmer, and variation. In addition to making pottery, Mark volunteers at both the Tennessee Acquarium in Chattanooga and Cloudlands Canyon State Park in Georgia. He also serves as president of the Georgia Clay Council, a regional artist guild based in Cherokee County, Georgia.

The show will include large vases, platters, jars, bowls, mugs, casseroles, sake sets, teapots, and other functional pottery that have been elevated to works of art.