Photos of ceramics, and article interpretation by Robert Kokenyesi, Ceramic Artist, Beachfront Pottery, Godfrey, IL, 62035, USA. If you enjoyed this post, then give me a “like” on my Facebook page. There is additional information about Beachfront Pottery on my web site.
The Published News Article
This short article has a good video showing the feeding habits of the bluntnose sixgill shark.
Giant, monster shark caught on camera
A research team got an up-close and personal encounter with a giant, ancient shark. The team led by Florida State University’s Dean Grubbs caught their interaction with a bluntnose sixgill on camera, according to Newsweek. The video shows the monstrous sea creature come up from the ocean floor, surrounded by clouds of sand.
At the beginning of the video you can even see the angles teeth of the shark. This shark seems to gobble up mud from the seafloor; it shark was probably looking for crabs or other prey in the bottom mud. The bluntnose sixgill shark has 6 gill slits as opposed to the 5 gill slits you see on most sharks. They can grow to 20 feet in length; they typically inhabit deeper waters.
Beachfront Pottery Pieces
Because the six gill slits are found mostly on extinct shark species, the bluntnose sixgill is considered an “ancient form” of a shark. So, the most relevant ceramic pieces from Beachfront Pottery are the Ancient Shark sculptures.
These sculptures aim to capture the most essential elements of sharks have been carrying for 400 million years. Those features include stealth, agility, cautious curiosity, and being one with the ocean.
Inspiration for Future Ceramic Pieces
Future Ancient Shark pieces are in the pipeline. My recent trip to dive with great white sharks at Guadalupe Island has given me a lot to think about, and a single feature of ancient sharks might be the topic of future sculptures.
I want to mention here the “Unsheltered” series that I just recently re-started. The concept is that sharks, and other ocean critters, are part of the sacred connection between all forms of life. The respect, and the careful consideration that has been provided to the sacred, is disappearing, and that leads to the unsheltering of sharks and other ocean species.
