Collaboration with Jack Troy

 Over the past year Jack Troy and I, thorough emails, have discussed the glaze Oribe. Recently he sent me two cups that he had thrown out of his porcelain clay body and asked me if I would glaze them in oribe. For doing that, I got to keep one of the cups, which is shown. This was quite an honor and I was thrilled for the opportunity.

 

"Fragments" Exhibition

 This wood fired clay sculpture will be exhibited in "Fragments", being held at Strata Gallery, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, January 3rd through January 21st, 2023. It will be one of 46 artworks, chosen from 740 entries, on display. Strata Gallery's address is 418 Cerrillos Road, Suite 1-C. 

Kiln Chimney Complete

 The Chimney that will serve both the small downdraft kiln and the tunnel kiln has been finished! 

This shows the brick courses as they are being built

 upwards after the angle iron supports were in place.

             Chimney complete, with roofing metal back in place.

Kiln Update

Building a kiln presents its challenges, and many are not concerning the kiln itself. I have been the sole laborer for this entire project, with the exception of digging and filling the kiln pad with gravel, erecting the trusses, and pouring the cement for the chimney support. Thus, I have had to research and ask questions to knowledgeable people in order to come up with the best solution for a problem.

For me, one of the biggest has been figuring out how to access the peak of my kiln shed roof in order to carry the chimney through and work safely.  After securing a pair of ladder hooks, a set of Ultimate Ridgehooks, and a Chimney Bracket, I am now able to stack the chimney brick above the roof line. The next challenge will be flashing the chimney, but that will, hopefully, be an easier task.

Chimney Bracket in place, mounted on Ultimte Ridgehooks. Ladder on roof is positioned with ladder hooks.

Staging in place using 2" x 8" lumber, and 2" x 4s positioned and secured with Simpson Ties. This allows me to get to the other side of the chimney to work.

Brick as it is being stacked to come above the roof line. It will rise 3 feet above the roof peak. Angle iron bracing will be put in place along corners.

Emerge Gallery

It’s always a great feeling for me when I have the opportunity to exhibit my artwork in the town (now a city) that I grew up in (Greenville, NC) and went to college (ECU), where I first started working with ceramics. These two wood fired pieces will be at Emerge Gallery for an exhibition that will run October 7-27, 2022. There will be an opening reception on Friday, October 7, 2022, from 5:00-8:00 pm.

                                         Hanaire/Vase

                                    Chawan/Tea Bowl

Strictly Functional Pottery National

 This oribe sushi tray was chosen for the 30th annual "Strictly Functional Pottery National" by jurors Jack Troy and Carolanne Currier. The exhibition will be showcased at the Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA, and runs September 17th - November 5th, 2022. It will be viewable "in-person" and "online".

Sushi Tray

Clay International 2022

 This oribe hanaire/vase was selected to be exhibited in "Clay International 2022", being held at Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA. The exhibition runs August 6th - October 9th, 2022, and will be viewable "in person" as well as "online".

Hanaire/Vase

Kiln Update

 The metal bracing is in place and secured, as well as the arch form positioned and shimmed. Now its onward with constructing the sprung arch. Then, this down-draft wood-fired kiln will be finished!

Enduring Surfaces

 I will be participating in Schaller Gallery's exhibition, "Enduring Surfaces: Glazes IV". It opens Tuesday, June 14th at 2:00 pm EST. This one of numerous pieces that I sent for this show.

Oribe Sushi Plate/Tray

GeoLogic

 This wood fired hanaire/vase was recently accepted into "GeoLogic", an exhibition being held at Atlantic Gallery, located in the Chelsea District of New York City. The show runs June 21st through July 9th, 2022. An opening reception is slated for Thursday, June 23rd. Juror was Bruce Dehnert. 

Yunomi Invitational

 These six oribe glazed kurinuki yunomi are headed to Iowa City, Iowa for the June opening of AKAR Gallery's "Yunomi Invitational".

Progress on Wood Kilns

 I made some good progress on my kiln construction during the fall of 2021. Jamie Guggina, a potter in nearby Florence, MA, loaned me his brick saw, which was a game changer. (Thanks to Westhampton, MA potter Sam Taylor for making that happen). The primary focus has been on the small down-draft kiln and the chimney. I had to get enough of the tunnel kiln up so I could extend the chimney, which is necessary in order to fire the down-draft, once it is finished. There is still a bit of work to do, primarily bracing and putting the sprung arch on, as well as getting the chimney up through the roof. Winter has put a hold on things but I will start back up early spring. Here are a few images to show where I currently stand. 

 

This is the front of the small down-draft kiln. It’s now ready to have the arch constructed.

 

 

This shows the tunnel kiln construction which, at this point, will allow for the chimney to be completed. 

 

Once the two kiln walls and chimney base were finished at an even level, I stepped in the chimney to two brick courses thick. This shows the passive dampers that are below the damper slot.

 

This shows the ledge made to accommodate the opening and closing of the damper.

 

This shows the lintel in place to complete the damper slot.