pottery land

Here in pottery land I have been working some seriously long hours day and night to make the last few pots for our second firing.  After the last firing two weeks ago we just didn't quite have enough pots to load it, so getting going again in the studio there's always that excitement and hope of all the pots I dream of making. Well the reality is, I just can't spin them out as fast as I can think of them.  But I've been feeling like a machine sort of, as I stocked up on the necessary mugs, cups and bowls.  With these two firings, this should get me through December and although I'm sure I'll be back making pots soon again, I probably won't be doing another wood firing until winter.  I had so many shows and events scattered about this year that I haven't slowed down since, well... I'm not really sure.  There was last winter where I worked to fill wholesale orders, some spring shows, then I got married, then there immediately were summer shows to fire for, then there were fall shows to fire for, and now I'm hoping for a fall break very soon! The kiln being so big can be great, but sometimes filling it seems much more daunting, so often I find myself thinking of my dream studio and kiln and I envision a few different kilns in all shapes and sizes...two more years here at the Energy Exchange, which will fly by.  But Will and I are already thinking ahead to the big what next question, and thoughts are heavy as we mull over ways to do it.  I know what's next. It's just making it happen. Buying a house, setting up our permanent studio, and living happily ever after in pottery land, right? It's a great land here alright. A hard working land, where self employed means your boss doesn't let you off very often or very easily, where you have to put on many hats, hold on tight and grow tough, hard shells and ride the roller coaster of an artist.  Yet I do what I love and I love what I do and that really and truly is something to be very grateful for.

Details

 I separated out a few new favorite pots from the wood firing to photograph.  As always, it helps me to see the pieces in a different light and behind the lens of my camera.  It gives me a chance to evaluate what's either working or not working about a piece.  Usually then it sparks a new angle that I like to think about working on the next time I return to that form in the studio! I'm excited for the direction some of the tiny new details are taking me, the teapot below was the different one out of a batch of 6, and I'm happy with where it's going.

Mugs for Jugs

Mudfire Gallery is hosting an exhibit and benefit sale of handmade mugs with proceeds donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  I sent along two mugs for this exhibit to open online at 10:00 EST on Saturday, October 1.  There will be a reception that night from 5-9 at Mudfire Gallery in Decatur, Georgia.  

To view the show online on October 1, visit here.

Follow Mugs for Jugs exhibit on Facebook

Colors of fall

 I'm still happily sorting through all the new pots here at the studio, took some photos of some to apply to some shows.  This firing is reminding me of fall more than ever it seems, as fall is creeping closer and closer up here in these parts. The pots are more reduced and a bit darker and even flashed a brighter red this time.  That could be because we put a pound less of soda in this time, as well, which was an accident, actually. We had all the soda measured out but didn't notice we forgot to put in the last pound we had planned to put in.  So some of the pots were drier, but others came out with a nice balance of soda and red flash, which is usually exactly what I'm going for, I love dark red! I'm quite happy with this bowl below, had a couple of them like that, as well as the platter below.

I'm already making pots to finish filling up our round two firing that's right around the corner.  Since there's a short making cycle this time, I'm making lots of cups, mugs and bowls, and hopefully some other pots, too.  We'll see how far I get before I have to cut myself off before the firing.  A potter always wants more pots.

Shared Spaces

Will and I are showing together in an upcoming exhibit, near Atlanta, Georgia at the Roswell Arts Center West, from September 19- October 14.  Shared Spaces is an exhibit showcasing the new wood and soda fired pieces created in our studio.  Sharing a life and studio together, we each create our individual work and fire together in a wood kiln, fueled by discarded wood pallets.

I hope you get a chance to see the great collection of wood and soda fired pots we sent down there!  You can view the show online here.  Here's the statement we wrote about our exhibit:

  
Looking back we realized that our paths would have crossed inevitably, and that in one way or another, we have been sharing spaces for several years now.  We first met as a result of us both seeking our own paths as potters.  Each drawn towards atmospheric firings from the very beginnings of our clay careers, it was only natural that we would soon be putting our heads together to find our way through the intricacies of soda firing.  After each leaving Resident Artist positions at the Odyssey Center in Asheville, North Carolina, we soon began relying partly on shared firings in a small wood kiln that Will built for himself.  Sharing the labors and excitement of a wood fired soda kiln and combining our talents and observations allowed us to learn together to create the firings we have today. 

Although we choose to fire our work in the same type of kiln, our interests for our work are often different.  We strike a balance between sharing a very similar aesthetic and enjoying the freedom to make individual choices about our own work.  Joy’s forms are embellished with hand carved patterns and impressed textures, and often further enhanced by pooling glazes; Will’s work relies on strong, masculine forms emphasizing both the dramatic and the subtle effects of flame, ash, and vapor leaving their own mark on the surface. 

The last year marked a new transition for us as we began working in the same shared studio and combined our work and our energies to fill and fire a larger wood kiln as Resident Artists at the Energy Xchange in Burnsville, North Carolina.  While we continue to each focus on making our own forms, sharing the same space has brought unexpected benefits. Nearly side by side on a daily basis, we see the constant ebb and flow of each other’s working cycle.  We have found that the energy of one of us often feeds the energy of the other and helps add momentum to each new cycle of making and firing.  Both of us usually have our own intended plan for a certain piece, yet we are still able to offer encouragement to one another, and serve as the source of inspiration or simply a different perspective.  In the last few months we have seen both of our forms evolve and grow in ways that we might not have expected.

We have always shared the same commitment to continually refine our work, down to the little details that only our own eyes can see.   We realized early in our relationship that we shared a common level of dedication and persistence; now we have come to truly rely on each other’s commitment to fire the kiln.  When we peek into the fire to observe the wood flames wrapping around our work, we know our combined energies have helped to feed that fire.  A few days later, unloading our wood kiln proves that we have shared not only the kiln space but the flames as well.

Strictly Functional Pottery National

 

I was excited to get this set of carved square bowls juried into this year's Strictly Funtional exhibit.

The opening reception is coming up on September 23, 2011.  Be sure to check out the details below on this great annual show:

 

Strictly Functional Pottery National

Don't Miss the Opening Reception

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 / 6pm - 9pm

Juror Mary Barringer is a studio artist who has exhibited her
work nationally and internationally, and has taught at numerous
art centers and universities. In addition to her studio
work, she has written and lectured on ceramic history, and is
editor of Studio Potter Magazine. She lives in Shelburne Falls,
Massachusetts.

Admission of $15 includes refreshments, music, a presentation

and a gallery walk/talk with juror Mary Barringer.
Exhibit is held at Kevin Lehman's Pottery at

560 S. Prince Street in downtown Lancaster.

1 DAY WORKSHOP

Barringer will give a demonstration workshop

on September 24 from 10-5.  $55 per person.

There are still a few openings!

Call Kevin at 717-509-7547 to reserve your spot!

EXHIBIT DATES

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2011
Free to public - Donations welcome.
Hours: Mon-Fri / 10am - 5pm
Sat / 10am - 4pm
Sun / Noon - 4pm
For further information visit:
www.strictlyfunctionalpotterynational.net

www.klpottery.com

Unloading the wood kiln

 

Lots of new pots all around; Will and I had a great firing!  We got some different looks, more reduction in some areas resulting in richer darker red flashing of the slips and wood flame.  Will side fired some of his taller pots on the top and bottom shelf and they turned out really great.  There are lots of pots to sort and ponder over, and also time to gear up for round two of another firing in a couple of weeks.  More pics to come!

Fully loaded

I made it through my glazing week which seemed to take longer to drum up the energy and momentum after a week away assisting the class at Penland last week. It seems I never caught up on some much needed R&R, but the glazing had to be done and the resting will come soon enough!  We loaded up the wood kiln this weekend and Monday we'll be firing it off.  It was a good stack- I always enjoy loading kilns, full of such promise and excitement of new forms and surfaces.  Plus, it was a beautiful September day that reminds me of how much I love living here in these mountains.  Tomorrow will be a long day, so I'll see you on the other end when I can show you the results of the fire!

Glazing glazing glazing

Now that I'm back from my great week at Penland, I'm back in the groove in the studio, glazing loads of bisqueware that has piled up high in the studio.  Will and I are trying to get a shared wood firing in by next week and another one by the end of September. We're gearing up for lots of great fall shows, the favorite being the Spruce Pine Potters Market on October 8-9. (save the date!)

Although I'm glazing for the wood kiln, usually most people assume that my glazing process is quick, but it's actually not.  With all the carved panels of texture, I brush my glaze into those areas, leaving the smooth contrasted panels bare with flashing slip.  So this means a lot of glaze prep with wax to help me glaze a bit neater!  It's a slow process for sure, aided by the help of either great ipod tunes or an engrossing audio book! 

Coming up

This month holds several interesting exhibits I'm involved in that you should see if you are in the area. "Out of Proportion" is a collection of pieces large and small from members of the Piedmont Craftsmen at the gallery in Winston-Salem, NC. I have a large and small bark basket there in the exhibit.

Will and I are both exhibiting our tableware in "Dining with Frank," at the FRANK gallery in Chapel Hill, NC. The opening is this Friday, September 9, 6-9 pm and this group show of a great collection of potters continues through November 6. I sent along a carved wood fired place setting of a dinner plate, lunch plate, carved bowl and carved cup. Hope you get a chance to see all the great pots!