Rick Dillingham Pottery Dinosaur Gas Can [R]

The ceramics of Rick Dillingham (1952-1994) never ceased to surprise and amaze his dedicated collector admirers.  As soon as one was satisfied that he or she knew what to expect from Dillingham, he produced another unique pottery form.  Dillingham was known for his globular jars which he then broke and then reassembled as a conservator would do to prehistoric pottery shards. Then, around 1989-1990, he produced “gas cans.”  His gas cans were architectural masterpieces based on, what else, architecture.

Dillingham made an “Italian Gas Can” based on the façade of a Baroque church, an “Arched Gas Can” based on buttresses of a Taos church, and, in this gas can, Dillingham fashioned a “Dinosaur Gas Can” based on, perhaps, the fossil source of today’s petroleum.  Dillingham must have enjoyed creating these gas cans as much as collectors enjoyed seeing them.  At a Linda Durham Gallery exhibit in 1990 in Santa Fe, the entire exhibit sold out on opening night, including the three gas cans displayed.

Dillingham constantly surprised and entertained his admirers with creative pottery designs of a style not being made by other ceramicists.  His virtuosity of craftsmanship enlivened an art market that would have accepted less and been happy, but he exceeded their expectations by many degrees.   His virtuosity in craftsmanship lives long after he is gone.  It was a very pleasant surprise to see this Rick Dillingham Pottery Dinosaur Gas Can walk into the gallery!

Condition: original condition

Provenance: According to the current owner, Dillingham gifted this to his friend Tomas who, in turn, gifted it to the current owner, a contemporary Santa Fe resident.

Recommended Reading:

-        Rick Dillingham 1952-1994: A Retrospective Exhibition by Author Unknown

-        Rick Dillingham: 1993 Distinguished Artist Award (Rotary Club of Santa Fe) by Suzanne Abel-Vidor, et al

More Recommended Reading - Pottery Books by Rick Dillingham:

Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham