“Large Lip Bowl”
Peter Karner
Photo by Scott D.W. Smith.

The philosopher John Dewey, in his 1934 book, Art as Experience, lamented the American habit of putting art on a “remote pedestal.” He wrote, “When an art product once attains classic status, it somehow becomes isolated from the human conditions under which it was brought into being…”

Now, I’m the first person to enjoy and appreciate museum exhibitions. I serve on the board of my local museum, and believe that the institution adds a great deal to my community.

But, art to me is a living, breathing thing. And, luckily for all of us, there is a growing nucleus of artists creating exciting products for the home — artwork we can live with and use on a daily basis.

Peter Karner’s ceramic bowl graces my life, as I use it to serve everything from salads to rice to vegetables. This piece of art sits on a pedestal, but the pedestal is my dining room table instead of a museum pedestal.