Richard Bresnahan American, Teapot 1995 Stoneware with natural glazes 6-3/4 inches high, 8 inches long 96.25.2a,b

Look

1. What is this object? How can you tell? What would this object be used for? What material is this teapot made of? What makes you think so? What material is the teapot's handle made of? Why do you think the teapot's handle isn't made of clay?
    
2. What kinds of lines do you see in this teapot? Are the lines straight or curved? Thick or thin? Use your finger to trace the lines in the air. What kind of movement does your hand make? What mood or feeling does the movement of the lines help create? Why do you think the artist used so many curved lines in this teapot?
    
3. What shapes do you find in this teapot? Are they ORGANIC or GEOMETRIC shapes? Are all the shapes the same size? How do the shapes the artist used relate to the function of the object? Is this teapot SYMMETRICAL or ASYMMETRICAL? Explain your answer.
    
4. What is texture? How do you think this teapot would feel if you touched it?
    
5. The teapot was fired in the Tanegashima, or third and largest chamber, of a special wood-firing kiln. The pottery here is unglazed. Do the colors look natural or artificial? What makes you think so? Would the teapot look different if it had been glazed with colors? How?
    
6. Do you think this teapot was made (a) on a potter's wheel, (b) using the coil method, (c) with a mold, or (d) by the slab method. Explain your answer.
    

Think

1. Do you think this teapot was made to be used or to be displayed? Why? Do you think an object can be used daily and still be considered an art object? Look around your classroom. Name several objects that are useful. Think of the objects you have at home that are useful. If you could make any object in your classroom or home decorative, which object would you choose? Why? How would you change it to make it decorative?
    
2. Do you have a teapot at home? Is your teapot made of clay or some other material? Was it made by hand? Where was it made? What other beverages do people drink today? What kinds of containers hold these beverages? What kinds of containers do you and your family use to keep liquids in? What are your containers made of?
    
3. Where does clay come from? The artist who made this teapot is committed to using resources and recycled materials from the surrounding area. He respects the earth and is thankful for its many gifts. Are there any gifts of the earth for which you are thankful? What are they? How do you show your appreciation for the earth?
    
4. Richard Bresnahan, the artist, makes pottery that incorporates American and Japanese traditions. He is an American who studied pottery in Japan for four years. Was this teapot made a few years ago or a long time ago? Why do you think so?
    
5. Have you ever made anything from clay? What did you make? How did you do it? This teapot was thrown on a potter's wheel. Have you ever used a potter's wheel?
    
6. Would you like to use this teapot? Do you think it would be heavy? What sounds would you hear as you poured the tea?
    

Key ideas.
Where does it come from?
What does it look like?
How was it used?
How was it made?
Discussion questions.
Additional resources.

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