New Work - jars and bowls and more, oh my!

Here's a small preview of some of the new work I'll have at the Broad Ripple Art Fair this weekend! The firing went very well this weekend, and I'll likely fire at least a few more kiln loads in the evenings this week. I expect to have at least 3, possibly 4 new larger sculptures out at the show, as well! Hopefully I can find some time to take photos to add to the gallery. I'm really excited about where my work is headed right now, and the rest of the summer should be both productive and fun. Four confirmed summer shows so far - check out the events page for details!

First Raku Firing of 2012

I rather like seeing this view outside my back door!

I fired Friday night - the first time this year - and oh, so much fun! A couple friends were here and had not seen raku before, so it was fun to share the experience and show off some flames. I only finished about 3 loads Friday, but Saturday was a marathon. I woke up well rested, and basically went straight out to the kiln to spend the day glazing and firing. Probably 9 or more kiln loads that day - my kiln isn't that big, so the amount I was actually able to finish wasn't too substantial, but it was a heck of a productive day, nonetheless.

Pottery, both building/throwing and firing, makes me happy in a way few other aspects of life do. I'm excited to have so many shows lined up this summer, and therefore a reason to keep making so many fun things! I will post some photos soon, once I have more cleaned up.

Firing after dark is so much more dramatic -
I love the look of glowing pots, ready for reduction.

Bisqued Bowls

So lovely and pink after the bisque! I don't actually care for pink as a color, not all that much, but something about seeing a big stack of bisqueware ready for glaze really lifts my spirits. I'll be firing on Friday evening, and hopefully we'll get through all of the 30 tea bowls (so many! the photo only shows 20 or so), and even some of the little jars. I have some larger sculptures in process as well, so I expect to fire again a time or two before the Broad Ripple show, which is coming up all so soon!

Beautiful Books and the Making of Things

I've been spending time with beautiful books and feeling thankful for some inspired conversations with friends, professors, and fellow students lately. I had expected to be writing a rather boring term paper, but sometimes the right thoughts come together at the right time.

Particular thanks are due to...

• Pravina and Henry, for loving pottery and publishing wonderful books
• Jason, for arranging a challenging and informative course this semester
• Andrew, for keeping me grounded, for music and for making me laugh
• Meg, for continuing to fall into step in every stage of life
• Tom, for discussions about his work in progress and unexpectedly relevant thoughts
• Jeremy, for yet again pulling me out of the metaphysical abyss
• Pauline, for sharing her musings on temporality
• and to Matt Jones as well, for making available his conversations with and about Garth Clark. The same for all of the authors whose books I've been reading - they may never know how wonderful it has been to have their assistance as I've waded through these murky waters.

Some days it hits home that I do not do enough to express to all of my "family" (by blood, and those whom I've adopted) how much they mean to me.

My life is conspiring to pull me out of this reverie...

I've made tea bowl after tea bowl, and it's been delightful to spend time exploring these new forms. The last of the 30 bowls should be bisquing tonight. What a month it has been! Raku soon - anyone who wants to come to the firing should speak up now.

Unfortunately, writing a final paper and preparing to run the Indy Mini Marathon next weekend probably ought to take precedence in my life right now, as tempted as I am to explore the inner recesses of my own mind, and explore --in clay-- all the new ideas that have formed lately. I've been fortunate to have some incredibly intellectual discussions and unusual insights recently (not to mention finally finding some appropriate music to work with!) and I think some new sculptures are imminent.

In other news, I will officially be at Arts Fair on the Square this summer, in late June. I highly recommend that Bloomington folks mark that one on their calendar, it's a great show!