Lot 3181 in the Summer Splendor Auction. Bulbous Porcelain Vase, with dark copper red and blue glaze, narrow neck and flared rim, ca. 1965-70, signed on the base with artist’s cipher and “Benedictine Monks”, Weston, Vermont”, crafted while Brother Thomas was a member of the Weston Priory monastic community (1959-1983), 11 1/2″ high, 9 1/2″ diam. Photos – courtesy of Thomaston Place Auction Galleries ©
The extensive collection of ceramics by artist and Benedictine monk Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007), crafted during his time at Weston Priory in Vermont, is set to be auctioned by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in two sessions: June 28-30 and August 23-25, 2024.
Weston Priory: A Legacy of Art and Spirituality
Weston Priory, a Benedictine community dedicated to prayer, manual work, and hospitality, has been home to the largest and most significant repository of Bezanson’s work from 1959 to the early 1980s. This 61-piece collection highlights the evolution of his artistic skill and glaze techniques, meticulously preserved since his departure from the monastery in 1983.
Brother Elias of Weston Priory remarked, “We have been guardians of this wonderful collection for over 40 years, but now is the time for us to share the beauty of this work with the world.” Kaja Veilleux, owner and auctioneer at Thomaston Place, added, “We are honoured to have the opportunity to place these amazing works of art in the hands of museums and collectors who will continue to preserve them for future generations.”
When asked to choose a favourite piece, Brother Elias responded, “I don’t have a favourite. They are all beautiful and wonder-filled pieces of ceramic artistry that are valued and esteemed by all of us brothers at our monastery.”
Artistic Vision and Inspiration
Known for his meticulous approach, Bezanson believed each piece of pottery should convey truth, beauty, and a spiritual experience. Inspired by Chinese ceramicists of the Tang and Song Dynasties and Japanese “Living Treasure” potters like Shoji Hamada, Bezanson’s work is a testament to his dedication and artistic vision.
From Monastery to Legacy: Brother Thomas’s Life and Art
After leaving Weston Priory, Bezanson moved to Erie, PA, where he became artist-in-residence at Mount Saint Benedict. He passed away in 2007, leaving behind a legacy that includes over 80 museum collections worldwide.
Brother Thomas Bezanson was an internationally renowned ceramic artist, a master of complex glazes and purity of form. Born Charles Bezanson in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1929, he graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Design in 1950 and received a degree in commerce from St. Mary’s University. He began his work in ceramic art around this time.
In 1959, Thomas became a monk at Weston Priory. He described Weston as a gift that taught him, “The first extension of love and freedom is creativity, and without them there is no possibility for art to exist in this world.” He continued his art and formal education while in Weston, earning a degree in philosophy and the University Gold Medal from Ottawa University in 1968.
Brother Thomas was a visiting lecturer at Alfred University School of Ceramics and travelled to Japan, where he met five Japanese potters designated as “Living National Treasures.” These artists deeply influenced his work and thought. He received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1984 and became artist-in-residence at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1985, working there until his death in 2007.
Brother Thomas’s goals for his glazes were colour, depth of surface, and uniqueness. He stated, “Technology is the bridge (or barrier) to realizing the intuition. Glaze is headwork while the form is contemplative.” His practice involved throwing the pot first and then choosing the glaze to enhance the form. Bezanson was unique in that he destroyed much of his work if it did not have unique beauty and truth.
Legacy Through the Brother Thomas Fund
Toward the end of his life, Thomas worked with Pucker Gallery and the Boston Foundation to create a legacy that would benefit other artists through the sale of his work. The Brother Thomas Fund was established at the Boston Foundation in 2007, supporting a diverse group of Greater Boston artists working at a high level of excellence. Fellows receive $15,000 awards biennially through a rigorous process of nominations and review by a panel of Boston area nonprofit arts leaders and practitioners.
Brother Thomas’s work has been exhibited in more than fifty solo exhibitions over the past 40 years. His pots are held in numerous significant public collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Internationally, his works are included in museum collections in Japan, Canada, England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Israel, and the Vatican.
The Brother Thomas Fund, established in 2007, honours Brother Thomas’s legacy by supporting struggling artists. The biennial Brother Thomas Fellowship program awards $15,000 to artists working at a high level of excellence in various disciplines, enhancing their ability to thrive and create new work. The Fellowships are given without stipulation as to how the funds are spent, supporting artists in line with Thomas’s wishes. The program fosters a community of recognized artists, supporting their continued artistic excellence.
