Monday, July 25, 2005

Nearly ready to fire



Everything for my first firing is in the mail! I ordered my pyrometer and thermocouple from Omega Engineering and my posts and cones from Laguna last week. My shelves finally came last week too, so, unless something happens (knock on wood) the firing is still scheduled for the 29th through the 30th.

This picture shows one of the vases I made for this firing, and a little of what my small studio looks like. I had this shape in my head for a while, and I finally figured out how to make them. I'm not going to glaze them; rather, I am going to let the texture of the clay show, and will see what the ash will do to the raw surfaces. I also made a couple dozen small teabowls to spread throughout the kiln to see what effects the different areas of the kiln produce.

One more load of wood (just to be safe), a little more glazing, plus some minor work on the kiln is what I can do while I'm waiting for my deliveries. Check back - I will be updating!

Friday, July 15, 2005

Artist statement

I received by BFA in Art with an emphasis in Graphic Design from Dana College in 2001. While there I took two semesters of ceramics with Tom Hubbel and fell in love with the process of turning earth into form and beauty. After pursuing a career in Graphic Design, I decided a desk job wasn't for me. I needed to express my ideas in more active, "hands-on" ways. I took a job as a letterpress printer, which I still have and enjoy because of its tactile qualities, but it still wasn't enough of a creative outlet.

I had met Tony Winchester at the Cambridge Pottery Festival in 2002, and I knew he lived close, so I asked him if he needed an apprentice. He said yes, and I worked for him for six months. I now work out of my home, and having recently completed my wood-fired kiln, I am now a self-sustained potter.

The work I do is an extension of my fascination with the process of pottery. I embrace the unexpected. Simplicity of form and decoration is important to me. I create one-of-a-kind functional and non-functional pieces designed to be both visually pleasing and useful in daily life, while creating a cohesive body of work. I also try to be as environmentally responsible as possible, using waste-wood for fuel, and a minimal amount of electricity in the studio.

When I called Tony three years ago, I wasn't sure if the draw I felt toward pottery was anything more than a passing phase, but I still find my thirst for the pottery process continues to grow. I don't know where it's taking me, but I hope my pottery reflects my enjoyment of the ride.