Ceramics by Max Butler

MAX BUTLER, master artisan, 1943 – 2021

Our longtime Ewam Choden sangha member, James Max Butler passed on,  on September 3, 2021.  We miss him.

A lifelong artist and knowledgeable about antique European and Asian art, Max Butler has been Lama Kunga’s student since 1980.  He resided at Ewam Choden for about six years, during which time he began making Dharma images.  There were shows of his Dharma ceramics at Ewam Choden and his work was shown in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Oakland..  Max also designed and helped with Treasure Vases for Lama Kunga.  Max now resides in Upper Lake, California (the area of EC’s retreat center) where he is occupied creating Dharma art in his home studio.  Some of his work can be seen and is available for purchase at Ewam Choden.

Max worked in a variety of media including watercolor, woodcut prints, ceramics of all sizes, wood sculpture, and silkscreen.    The images he created range from somber to jovial to serene, representing Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Siddhas and yogis, and historical persons.  He reproduced the styles of Tibet and Nepal, India, China, Cambodia, Japan and others, as well as creating in his own unique ever-changing style.

At this time,  in order to assist fundraising on behalf of Ewam Choden, Max  graciously offered his Dharma art work to the general public at large and  donated to Ewam Choden from 50% to 100%  of the price of each item.

You may view a gallery of his work on Facebook at facebook.com/max.butler.14606    https://www.facebook.com/max.butler.14606

A few images are shown here.

The are two separate Buddhas, a wooden part of a Buddha and two monks of which, Max said ” two raku sculptures of Jittoku & Kenzan, two crazy Buddhist monks, who lived long ago.  Jittoku supposes and Kenzan sweeps.  They both laugh a lot.  They measure each to be about five inches tall.  I made them around 1983 before I went to Tibet with Lama Kunga Rinpoche.”