Fred Roster's Life Work

Fred Roster got into ceramics and sculpting because he “loved the smell of the earth and wanted to do something with my hands.” Roster grew up on a farm in California; working with clay, wood, glass, bronze and other earthy materials came naturally to him. This month, the Honolulu Academy of Arts will showcase more than 40 years of Roster’s work at its Art Center at Linekona (including the piece above). “I’m excited to see how the pieces interact with each other. I hope it’s like a book of poetry,” he says. Roster also teaches sculpting classes at UH Manoa and is the co-founder of the popular International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition.