-Silla- teapot c. 1995

Curator: Looking at Warren Frederick’s teapot from circa 1995, one can immediately see how its rustic materiality might inspire conversations around identity and function, even ritual. Editor: My first thought? That it looks like a shy little creature huddled there, waiting for someone to pour the tea. Curator: Indeed. Frederick's deliberate use of ceramic in this piece, permanently held by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, pushes us to consider ceramics and functionality outside of Western traditions and modes of consumption. The handle in particular reminds us of pre-modern pottery vessels, used in contexts far different from Western tea ceremonies. Editor: Yes! There's an earthiness here that feels so fundamental, it connects with something ancient. And the form itself - the slightly wonky spout, that enormous handle… it's charmingly imperfect. It has the dignity of labour somehow. I can picture it sitting beside someone creating incredible poetry or just trying to survive. Curator: I agree. Furthermore, by intentionally embracing this earthiness, Warren Frederick disrupts classist art hierarchies of Western paradigms, forcing us to reconsider utility and our own expectations about “fine art.” How might the social context surrounding tea influence Frederick’s work? Editor: Good point! It pushes the notion of hospitality too. You know, sharing tea—but also about the handmade object connecting the giver and receiver? Thinking of it like that, you pour more than just liquid; there is a history, there is labor, and you're also pouring affection of some kind. It transforms tea from an act into a story that keeps transforming over time. Curator: That interpretation of the relationality between maker, object, and imbiber expands our critical perspective. The implications that arise out of this work reach far beyond surface value. Editor: Well, after looking at it through your eyes, I'm now more grounded and less alone with that teacup. It somehow feels bigger. Curator: Likewise. Considering it is simply a teapot, the confluence of technique, intention, and function is nothing short of inspiring.