Born and raised in the San Francisco bay area of California, Bob Benker moved to the Mother Lode in 1980; the culmination of a dream to escape the metropolitan madness. With the peaceful serenity of the woods and the space to grow, the creative process became Bob's primary focus.
"The arts were always a part of my life," said Bob. Upon graduating from High School, he attended the California College of Arts and Crafts during the mid 1960's. He spent the next four years studying under the renowned Vernon Coykendahl while simultaneously being exposed to the great revolution during the 60's… Allen Ginsberg, Michael McClure, the poets, the peace marches, the demonstrations for civil rights as well as exposure to ceramic Artists Peter Voulkos and Bob Arneson - these were all influences from a time of great change and contributed greatly to what has since become his own unique style.
Bob left art school in 1967. He and his wife Pat raised a family of five children while building a piano refinishing business. "I went back to CCAC in 1988 to finish my studies and received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics in 1990. Those two years spent working under the creative talents of Viola Frey, Art Nelson and Dennis Gallagher renewed within myself an enthusiasm to explore and communicate through my art."
Bob has shown his work in numerous galleries and exhibitions over the years and finally opened his own gallery in Volcano, Ca., in December of 1995.
The development of theme shows such as "Faces" and "Image of the Blues" debuted in his own gallery and from there went on to become successful traveling shows going to other galleries around the United States and Mexico.
A retrospective show combining several themes of Bob's work was shown in Mexican State Art Museums in Sinaloa, Mexico. Combining the shows with teaching seminars has resulted in the beginning a cultural exchange that continues today. Mexican artists traveled north to work in Bob's Studio and Bob teaches and produces art in Mexico.
Bob is currently working in his mountain studio producing ceramic art and giving the occasional class. His gallery is open during the weekends and is located in the quaint town of Volcano, California.
Bob's Work…
The living creatures on the planet…
Bob has created a style uniquely his own. Surrounded by wildlife provides Bob with an never-ending supply of models. His ability to capture the vitality and freedom exhibited by Natures' own is expressed vividly with his use of Raku, Paint, Textiles, Pottery, Ceramics and other media.
 Some of his pieces
bear the imprint of a raccoon. Again, drawing on the gifts of Mother Nature, the
idea of using the raccoon imprint came about after a rain storm at his mountain home. Bob
came upon four perfect raccoon foot prints in a dried up mud puddle. He quickly made
wax molds of the unique prints and now uses them to imprint his clay pieces. |
"It's about being alive. About our identity as it relates to the other creatures and ourselves. Somehow we are them and they are us and we must embellish a precious bond to them and all that exists."
And now without further ado... See what all the excitement is about!!
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