November's Anagama Firing

The Gustin anagama was fired in November. Here are a few of the pieces that I had in the kiln.

Tea Bowl

Tea Bowl

Sake Cup

Sake Cup

Yunomi

Yunomi

Sake Flask

Sake Flask

Refires

I rarely have a piece come out of a wood firing that I am completely pleased with. It does occur, but not often, and certainly not in high numbers. What I am looking for out of a firing is depth and variation of surface, or "landscape", as a piece is rotated 360 degrees. Refiring provides the opportunity for a piece to obtain this. The first image below is an example of a sake cup that was initally fired on the side wall of the anagama firebox. It achieved superior ash melt, but I find it to be lackluster in surface variation. Thus, a prime candidate for refiring! The second image is after a second firing, and exemplifies the aesthetics I am seeking.

First firing

Second firing

Out of the Ashes

These wood fired pieces were selected for inclusion in "Out of the Ashes", a national exhibition showcasing contemporary wood fired ceramics. It is being held at Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg, FL. From approximately 200 entries, 55 works were chosen. The show opens on December 10th, 2016 and runs through January 30th, 2017.

Chawan (w/ wooden box)

Firebox Guinomi

Bud Vase

IWFE poster

This is the poster for Schaller Gallery's current "International Wood Fired Exhibition", curated by Phil Rogers (Wales, UK). It is an honor to have been chosen to participate.

Cassville, WI Firing

Ken Bichall, of Dubuque, Iowa, was kind enough to ask me this summer if I would like to have some work fired in the inaugural firing of a new wood kiln he was constructing in Cassville, Wisconsin. In September he fired for seven and one half days, achieving c/11+. Here are five sake cups that I had in the kiln...

 

 

 

 

 

Taiwan Chawan Expo

The International Chawan Expo Exhibition is being held in Maioli,Taiwan this year, and there are two venues. The first is at the Northern Maioli Art Center, from November 1st - 10th, 2016. The second exhibition is being held at the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, also located in Maioli, from November 15th, 2016 - February 1st, 2017. These are the three wood fired kurinuki chawan I will have on display...

International Wood Fired Ceramics

These eight wood fired pieces will be part of "International Wood Fired Ceramics 2016", curated by Phil Rogers. The show's venue is Schaller Gallery, 210 State Street, St. Joseph, MI, and runs from October 11th - early November, 2016. This exhibition can be viewed online by clicking: HERE

Tea Caddy

Sake Cup

Sake Cup

Tea Bowl

Bud Vase

Yunomi

Yunomi

Yunomi

The Clay Cup

These three wood fired kurinuki cups were recently selected for "The Clay Cup: Vessel, Icon, Canvas". Juried by Dan Anderson, 74 cups were chosen out of a field of 206 entered. This exhibition is being held from October 24th - November 17th, 2016 in the George Caleb Bingham Gallery, University of Missouri,  Columbia, MO. You can view this show online by clicking: HERE

Yunomi

Sake Cup

Sake Cup

Catalog Page

I recently received the proof for my catalog page of the upcoming International Chawan Expo, being held in Maioli, Taiwan.

UnWedged

This wood fired bud vase was recently selected for inclusion in "UnWedged", an exhibition of contemporary ceramic work, both functional and sculptural, from artists living in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.  This show will be held at Pottery Northwest's gallery, located in Seattle, WA, and will run from November 4 – 28, 2016. Sandy Simon, of TRAX Gallery, was the juror. This show can be viewed online by clicking: HERE

"Bud Vase"

 

Cup: The Intimate Object XII

These five wood fired cups will be in "Cup: The Intimate Object XII" at the invitation of Charlie Cummings Gallery. The exhibition is October 1st through November 4th, and will be online for viewing and purchases at: www.charliecummingsgallery.com
The page where these five cups are available can be reached by clicking HERE

Strictly Functional Pottery National

This wood fired katakuchi, or cold sake pourer, was recently chosen for exhibition in the 24th annual "Strictly Functional Pottery National". It was one of 110 pieces selected from over 850 works entered. The juror was Simon Leach. The exhibition dates are September 17th - October 22nd, 2016, with an opening reception being held on Friday, September 16th, from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Presented by Market House Craft Center, this exhibition will be showcased at Kevin Lehman's Pottery Gallery, 560 South Prince Street, Lancaster, PA. This year's exhibition can be seen online by clicking HERE.

UNF International Ceramics Exhibition

This wood fired guinomi (sake cup) was recently selected for inclusion in "University of North Florida International Ceramics Exhibition". This show runs September 1st - October 15th, 2016, and is being held in the UNF Gallery of Art, on the campus of the University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL.

An opening reception is planned for Thursday, September 1st, from 5pm-7pm.

June 2016 Anagama Firing

Here is a sampling of my pieces that came out of the anagama firing in June with Chris Gustin and crew...

Chawan

Chawan

Tea Caddy

Yunomi

Yunomi

Yunomi

Yunomi

Sake Flask

Guinomi

Guinomi

Guinomi

Bud Vase

Bud Vase

Bud Vase