Thomas Bezanson

Thomas Bezanson
Born
Charles Bezanson

(1929-08-05)August 5, 1929
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
DiedAugust 16, 2007(2007-08-16) (aged 78)
Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
Education
Known forCeramic artist
AwardsNational Endowment for the Arts Grant (1983)

Brother Thomas Bezanson (5 August 1929 – 16 August 2007) was a Canadian-born artist and Benedictine monk primarily known for his porcelain pottery and mastery of complex glazes. Strongly influenced by Asian pottery, he often adapted traditional Chinese and Japanese pottery methods and materials to his work.

Early life and education

Brother Thomas was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a descendant of Irish and Scottish families that had been in Nova Scotia for many generations. In 1950 he graduated from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. He also spent some time in New York City studying at Art Students League of New York. From 1951 to 1958 he both worked in business and was an advisor to the Nova Scotia Handcraft Century. He began working in pottery in 1953. In 1958–59 he traveled and studied in Europe.

Monastic life and career

In 1959, he entered the Benedictine Monastery, Weston Priory, in Weston, Vermont. In 1968 he graduated from the University of Ottawa with a master's degree in philosophy and a University Gold Medal. In 1976 he was a visiting lecturer at Alfred University School of Ceramics. In 1978 he traveled to Japan and Taipei. While in Japan he met five Living National Treasure potters. In 1983 he was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant. From 1985 until his death, he was the artist-in-residence at Mount Saint Benedict in Erie, Pennsylvania.

His works are held in more than 80 museum collections. One piece, initially rejected by the artist, is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Death

Brother Thomas died at his home in Erie, Pennsylvania, on 16 August 2007.

Brother Thomas Fund

The Brother Thomas Fund was established under the auspices of the Boston Foundation upon the artist's death.[1] Since 2007, proceeds from the sale of his work have supported the fund. In October 2009, the first eight Brother Thomas Fellowships were awarded to mid-career Boston artists, each receiving $15,000.

The fund is also supported by donations and by sales of Brother Thomas's work through the Pucker Gallery in Boston.[2] As of 2021, the fund had awarded $1,080,000 in grants to 72 artists. Fellowships are awarded every two years.

Exhibitions and honors

Known collections

Publications

  • The Path to the Beautiful. Boston: David R. Godine Publishers. 1988. ISBN 0-87923-699-X.
  • Gifts From the Fire. Boston: Pucker Gallery. 1993.
  • Creation out of Clay. Boston: Pucker Gallery. 1999.
  • Celebrate the Days: Brother Thomas Book of Days. Boston: Pucker Art Publications. 2000.
  • This Is the Day: Work and Words of Brother Thomas. Boston; Syracuse: Pucker Art Publications; Syracuse University Press. 2007. ISBN 978-0-8028-6312-6.

Further reading

  • Henning, Robert, Jr., ed. (1980). Ceramics of Weston Priory/Brother Thomas. Springfield, Massachusetts: George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum. p. 79.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link) Exhibition catalogue. Exhibition held at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1 June – 7 September 1980.
  • Gifts From the Fire. Biographical film. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 1991.[8]

Images

References

Notes
  1. ^ Additional information available at the museum's website.[3]
  2. ^ A note on the museum's acquisition is available in their archived acquisitions page.[5]
  3. ^ The museum featured highlights of Brother Thomas's work in their collection.[6]
  4. ^ A note on the museum's acquisition is available in their archived collection pages.[7]
Citations
  1. ^ "The Brother Thomas Fund". The Boston Foundation. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Brother Thomas". Pucker Gallery. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Art Complex Museum". Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Black Olive Vase". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Museum Acquisitions". Rhode Island School of Design. Archived from the original on 13 September 2006. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Highlights From the Smithsonian American Art Museum". Smithsonian American Art Museum. Archived from the original on 26 November 2005. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Collection List". Worcester Art Museum. Archived from the original on 30 December 2006. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Gifts From the Fire (1991)". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
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