Mud Honey

[December 15th, 2004] I just got to talk to a really cool potter, and not the guy who's the incoming mayor of Portland.

Jonathan Adler, 38, is a designer of starkly beautiful ceramic objects and other home furnishings, who makes up half of one of America's most powerful queer couples. His partner is writer and window dresser to the stars Simon Doonan, whom you know as the well-preserved Brit on those VH1 "list" shows. The super-hot duo of design-savvy New York queens has been together more than a decade, which seems like a century in queer years. I sat down with Adler while he was in Portland to attend a special party in his honor at the Pearl District's indelibly chic home decor store, J.D. Madison, and we talked about his obsessions: "cute" design, the Philadelphia Eagles and America's Next Top Model.

QW: Describe your work.

Jonathan Adler: The most consistent through-line that describes what I do is "happy," "handcrafted" and "luxe." It's not brain surgery. I'm just trying to make the world pretty and cute.

Isn't that word--cute--the kiss of death in design?

I look at cute as an overall positive thing. I am deadly serious about what I do, but I also think it should be fun.

What other deadly serious fun captures your interest?

I am deeply devoted to America's Next Top Model. I'm more preoccupied with [that show] than I am with my little empire-let [Adler operates three stores with more than 30 employees total]. We have an office pool, just like the Super Bowl, on who's going to win.

Speaking of Super Bowls, is it true you like football?

The Philadelphia Eagles are one of my top-secret devotions. I share this passion with Camille Paglia, and if it's good enough for Camille, it's good enough for me.

You don't sound very gay for a big-time designer.

I spent my pretty years behind the potter's wheel. I want to have more fun. I don't care about the resonance of my taste. I have a non-ironic love for Hilary Duff and a career-destroying admission to liking Hootie and the Blowfish.

Is that why you call yourself a "dorky enthusiast"?

Simon and I are nonjudgmental about people's tastes. As Madonna says, "Nothing really matters."

I believe that, too.

It's pro-communication and the opposite of dour obscurantism [definition: a style of art characterized by deliberate obliqueness].

Hey, now you're getting deep. What's your favorite color?

It depends on the absolute second I'm asked the question. Now it's lime green and orange, with baby blue in the wings. Baby blue always wins.

What do you enjoy more: designing a room or designing a bowl?

A bowl. It revolves around one idea, while a room requires a more sustained effort. Clay has been a calling since I first touched it in summer camp as a kid. I am consumed by it.

That sounds sort of religious.

I'm actually pretty cynical about religion. I find the more superficial the job, the more spiritual someone becomes. That's why we have makeup artists who are shamans.

Can pottery make you famous?

No. The only road to fame is television, period.