“The Yixing Effect: Echoes of the Chinese Scholar” is a revealing examination of historical Chinese treasures and contemporary American masterpieces. This is a richly illustrated book comprised of Chinese scholar art, historic Yixing ware and works by fifty-nine American ceramists who are among the most highly regarded and innovative artists in America today. Among those included are Richard Notkin, Richard Shaw, Chris Gustin, Kurt Weiser, John Glick, Philip Cornelius, Marilyn Levine, Rick Hirsch, Kim Dickey, Bonnie Seeman, Peter Pinnell, Kathleen Royster, Michael Sherrill, Michelle Erickson, Red Weldon-Sandlin and Susan Beiner to name a few.

The book discusses how the Chinese scholars collaborated with the ceramists of Yixing, leading to the invention of the teapot. Many American ceramic artists have been so influenced by Yixing ware they have traveled to Yixing, China to study this historic legacy. The book is a stunning cross-cultural investigation not relegated solely to teapots. It also presents contemporary ceramic work that either embodies the underlying spirit of the Yixing tradition or Chinese scholar art, departing from it and transforming it into something new.  The contents of the book have become the basis for an exhibition at the Holter Museum of Art www.holtermuseum.org and a traveling itinerary is being organized by Smith Kramer Traveling Exhibitions.

 www.smithkramer.com Also, I am pleased to report, when the President of China visited the US last week, he used my book as a cultural exchange gift.
-the author

The book is 11.5” x 8.5”, hard cover, cloth, Smythe-sewn binding, 206 pages, with 150 color photos.