| This article appeared in the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Sunday, August 3, 2003. |
Pursuing his passion
By Ann Nichols, Arts Writer
 Potter Mark Issenberg, owner of Lookout Mountain Pottery, attaches a handle on a mug in preparationfor an upcoming show .  Mark Issenberg extrudes clay to make these popular bud vases. | In Florida, he was a fireman, sailboat captain and owner of an exotic plant nursery. In Chattanooga, he volunteers at the Tennessee Aquarium, picks up trash at Cloudland Canyon State Park and collects Farmall Tractors. (They have to be red, though, he says.) Above all, Mark Issenberg is a potter. For the past 38 years, he has been on a quest to exhaust the possibilities of clay, concoct unique recipes for glazes and refine the forms of his functional vessels, platters and tea sets. A former apprentice to the late Charles Counts, Mr. Issenberg “found clay” at a very young age. “The first time I put my hands on clay was in an art class in the ninth grade,” he said. “The feeling was unbelievable, and right away I was making vases more than 2 feet tall.” The young student had tried other art mediums in the past, but he said he seemed to be able to control clay in a way that he hadn’t with other materials. After he graducated from high school, the Florida native came to Rising Fawn, Ga., to study with Mr. Counts for several months. He returned home, earned two art degrees and then spent another six months in Rising Fawn — working as Mr. Counts’ apprentice. With his degrees in hand, and the knowledge and experience he gained un the watchful eye of his instructor, Mr. Issenberg felt that he had a solid foundation in clay. Now, it was time to take the plunge and become a full-time potter. But, as so often happens to people in creative fields, financial needs dictated the necessity for a “day job.” He never abandoned clay, though. Several years ago, Mr. Issenberg decided to move to the Chattanooga area — settling in Rising Fawn near the home of his former instructor. Now a full-time potter, he makes both hand-built and wheel-thrown objects. His forms, primarily constructed of stoneware, are classical and elegant. However, he said what he wants to be remembered for at the end of his career are his glazes. “Charles (Counts) is known for his wonderful surface design work, but I hope people will know me for my ash glazes,” he said. Most often Mr. Issenberg applies (by spraying) a glaze composed of 50 percent wood ash and 50 percent Cedar Heights Redart Clay. He likes to layer his glazes in order to add depth and color to his creations, which are then fired in a gas kiln. Though he said he’s still learning, he has achieved a high level of respect among his peers. He serves as president of the Georgia Clay Council and will be one of only 45 ceramic artists exhibiting in “Perspectives 2003.” This event, featuring Georgia’s best contemporary and folk ceramists, will be held from Aug. 30 to Sept. 14 in Watkinsville, Ga. In addition, Mr. Issenberg will be featured with a solo exhibition at Mudfire Gallery in Atlanta during October. And he still hasn’t exhausted the possibilities of clay on his terms. “I can’t wait to make 4-foot, hand-built platters to mount on the,” he said. “That would be awesome.” |
Staff photos by Jeff Guenther