The Inspiration Behind James Carter’s Object Collection
Ask James Carter where he finds inspiration and you’ll find yourself settling in, getting comfortable, and being soothed by the melodic narration of his storytelling. For Carter, every piece he creates has a story, and the only thing that brings him more artistic pleasure than creating a piece, is sharing its origin story.
Carter’s life story is the inspiration behind his collection, From the Backwaters of the Bayou to Tobacco Road. The collection brings to life a series of his memories, from big life adventures to the mundane yet beautiful moments of the everyday that have shaped his forty-plus years as an enamelist and metalsmith in the American South.
His humble beginnings, blue-collar jobs, world travel, and love of ornament are all reflected in the work. Many of the objects appear unsophisticated at first blush, but look again and Carter’s respect and reverance for the people and places that inspire him, transforms the presence of each piece.
“My love of narrative and craft can take these objects to a higher level, giving them the respect and position they deserve, not only in my memories but as a testimony to the people, times and events that inspired them,” says Carter.
His memories span from making biscuits with his Grandma in Georgia to steering Merchant Marine shops across the North Atlantic into foreign ports. Marrying a New Orleans woman in City Park and settling with his family in tobacco country, North Carolina are key moments in his adulthood.
Here is a snapshot of the collection and a few of Carter’s memories that inspired, Backwaters of the Bayou to Tobacco Road. Let the collection inspire you to think about the moments in your life you’d like captured and crafted by James Carter Studio.
Give it a Squirt
"My dad always gave me unlimited access to his tool shed. He instilled in me a reverence for tools and working with my hands. I started my first business as a bicycle mechanic in our basement when I was 12. All the kids in the neighborhood hung out there. Our bikes were our freedom. Our windows to the work. Our horses. My dad gave me an oil can and said, “Here, this will keep the rust off your chain. Give it a squirt!”
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" Time to Wrap it Up
"Growing up on Bayou Texas in Pensacola, Florida, was the best childhood any kid could home for. We started dreaming of summer around March. We were up and out of the house by 7:00am, swimming, fishing, messing around in boats. There were 15 of us in my neighborhood, close to the same age. We all lived on the bayou with the bay and the gulf just minutes away by boat. Any boat. Mrs. Bartin would ring her bell and my mom would blow her whistle. Time to wrap it up. No big deal. There was always tomorrow."
Three Years Before the Stack
"Boot camp. The Seafarer School for the Merchant Marine. We talked about the adventures we were going to have as we sailed the four corners of the world. And the money. A new car. A motorcycle. Anything was possible. You dream big. We drank tea to be cool. You learn a lot about life when you go to sea. The camaraderie that develops between people from all walks of life. Alone in the North Atlantic, seeing how big the world really is. And, of course, the imminent danger is always there. More than anything, it fueled a desire for independence from the predictable life that previously I had accepted as being the norm."
My Favorite Ships
"In five years, I made many trips to sea and saw a lot of different places. One thing I found was that the crew makes all the difference. A lousy crew can make an exotic port just another day of work. Howver, a snowball fight between members of the crew at the Summer Palace of Peter the Great creates memories that last a lifetime. My cups are named after four of my ships - George Walton, Achilles, Maine, Sealand Produces and are for the crew. Members that sailed with me."
City Park
"Diane and I were married in City Park, New Orleans in 1989. It was a part of her life growing up and became a part of my life when we were married. Every Christmas, we would meet friends and ride the miniature train through the park, looking at the lights. When Camille came into our loves, we would go to the park, still with our friends and ride the carousel. It was a continuation of the life Diane enjoyed at City Park being passed onto our brand-new daughter."
Breaking the Chain
"Sometimes you know that it's time for a change. A new start. After two hurricanes and an oil spill, I knew that time had come. A journey into the unknown, leaving behind friends and a place you spent most of your life. We chose Chapel Hill. Several factors led us to that decision. So, we stepped off a cliff, not having any idea what landing would be life. Rough at first, but the potential is there. The road has become much smoother."
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