Over the last decade the narrowing of the gulf that traditionally existed between the realms of fine art and craft has resulted in a shift in perception of what ceramics can be and can mean. All areas of ceramic practice have been revitalized as a result--the creative possibilities that artists, lured by the plastic and tactile qualities of clay, have brought with them into ceramics have influenced ceramists of all backgrounds.Analyzing work from the last ten years, this book covers every aspect of contemporary ceramic practice and includes work of all sizes--from a few inches to large-scale installations. It is organizedinto five main chapters:Beyond Utility: original yet functional ceramicsDefining Space: wheel-thrown shapes, slip-cast forms, and hand-built structuresMind the Gap: sculptural work from precise and mechanical to freely modeled formsA Sense of Space: installations, both site-specific and environmentalThe Line of Beauty: collaborations between art and industry that result from advances in technologyContemporary Ceramics also includes biographies of the featured ceramists and a directory of museums and galleries.