88 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {home & design} CERAMICS shaping a second act words by SHERYL NONNENBERG PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: LEE MIDDLEMAN For most people, having a successful and fulfilling career is a life goal. But what if you are lucky enough to have the time, talent and courage to embark upon a second career? Portola Valley Ranch resident Lee Middleman has done just that and the proof can be found in the exquisite ceramics he produces in his home studio. Born and raised in Baltimore, Lee studied physics at Johns Hopkins University and then at Stanford University, launching his career in making analytical and medical instruments. Years of long hours and extensive travel paid off—Lee holds over 40 patents and was promoted to vice president. But when his company was bought by a large pharmaceutical firm, Lee came to a hard realization—he no longer enjoyed his job. Lee opted to take a nine-month break and travel, thanks to a “golden parachute” and the support of his wife, Donnie. But something kept calling him back to all the ceramics classes he’d recently taken at the Palo Alto Art Center and Lee realized that the medium he wanted to work with was clay. “I always liked to draw, and I loved watching my father, who was a mechanical engineer, drawing and tinkering,” he explains. “I grew up surrounded by family members who were painters, potters and musicians, so there was encouragement for the arts in the family.” But why clay? “It’s physical, it’s creative and you can make things that are functional, sculptural or decorative,” says Lee. His favorite way to work is a style he refers to as decorative/functional. At the end of his break, Lee and Donnie agreed to take a leap. Instead of going back to work, Lee would focus on becoming a professional ceramicist. That was more than two decades ago and the couple hasn’t looked back since. Lee took his new vocation seriously, attending classes, going to workshops and traveling the globe to learn techniques from recognized masters, many of them in Asia. He soon found his own working method and signature style, which is characterized by classic forms and carefully carved textures. As one might expect from a physicist, Lee’s work is beautifully ordered and carefully finished. “I like things precise; some people call it control, but I call it mastery.” To create one of his pieces, Lee starts by throwing clay on a pottery wheel and crafting a cylinder shape. He creates the textured exterior using knives, small balls of
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