Shawn Ireland

Charles Counts is known for work that demonstrates his interest in and the importance he places on simple forms. The surfaces are embellished with mishima drawings, deep carving and wax resist patterns drawn from the natural imagery he saw around his studio. In addition to functional pieces Counts? output includes tile murals and other architectural features

Counts? work reflects his interest in preserving the art forms of Appalachia. Another major influence was the aesthetics of the Bauhaus Movement which he absorbed during his apprenticeship with Marguerite Wildenhain at Pond Farm. Counts studied with three leading of the potters of the time, F. Carlton Ball, Susan Peterson and George James while studying at the University of Southern California.

In 1959 with his first wife, Rube Nelle Waldrop Counts, he founded and operated Beaver Ridge Pottery near Knoxville, Tennessee. There are 10,000 pieces inscribed ?Beaver Ridge?. Later the Counts established a production and training center devoted to pottery and quilting at Rising Fawn on Lookout Mountain, Georgia which was the Counts? studio for 25 years.

A speech about African pottery by Michael Cardew in 1972 changed the course of Charles Counts' life. He soon moved to Nigeria with his second wife, Hedi Bak, where they lived until his death there from Malaria in 2000.

Counts was also an accomplished quilter and weaver.