Last week of residency at STARworks...

Bisque ready for the firing

Bowls from the 3 firings I have taken part in so far.

"Rifling" the door

Anna waiting to side-stoke

Light from the "Secret Chamber"

Last night in Charlotte...

In Charlotte for a night-time viewing of the exhibition "Body Embellishment" at the Mint Museum. A wealth of information about the exhibition can be read here.

Joji Kojima "Insecta"

Jennifer Trask

Jennifer Trask "Germinate"

Rebecca Annand "Cameo Yoke Necklace" 3-D photopolymer

From the Mint Museum, looking down on the Bechtler Museum of Art - architect  Mario Botta

The Bechtler Museum, street level view

I will have to go back to Charlotte in daytime when the museums are open.

Sunday morning, downtown Star, North Carolina, on the way to work

It is pretty quiet in Star, North Carolina on a Sunday morning.......

Downtown Star

Star Hotel and Bed and Breakfast

Empty shop...

Dogwood tree

Azaleas and Dogwood across the street from STARworks

And then on to work at Starworks

Two round pots on the left fired, the others new today

Studio Touya

Bisque bowls ready for glazing

Takuro at the kiln

The first section of the kiln, not to be fired this time

Studio Touya, house and kiln

I am having work in a firing of Hitomi and Takuro Shibata's kiln in Seagrove: Studio Touya.
Packing this weekend, firing Monday....

Today's work

Today I got started on decorating all the bowls I made last week as there are quite a few firings coming up I can get them into....

Amongst others, Anne Pärtna's fine bourry box kiln at Blue Hen Pottery which will be fired next week. 

Anne's work

First week at STARworks

This Easter weekend started quite sensationally at STARworks with the annual Firefest. Blazing events in clay, glass and metal workshops. Many people, both local and from further afield, and guest artists showing their skills! Firstly; two events I was involved with.

Firing the climbing kiln, which I had 5 test pieces in and which I plan to fire later in the month: this was a great opportunity to get to know the kiln and its regular firing crew. The kiln was fired from wednesday morning until friday evening. Unpacking next wednesday.

Bowls in porcelain clay

Firing crew: Jeff Brown

Salting the second chamber: Bill Jones and Jeff Brown

Nearing the end of the firing

The fiber kiln constructed by Andres Allik (from Estonia) was fired over several days. Firstly with a gentle electric blower, (the work was thick and not dry) then gas, and then a full day's stoking with wood.When darkness had fallen a team of 7 people (I was one of them) opened the 7 "petals" of the kiln. The kiln can be dismantled and re-used again and again.

The developer of the sculpture kiln - Andres Allik

Kiln from afar

Preparing to unveil the sculpture

Tree sculpture by Carole Gentiles

Residency in North Carolina

After NCECA in Providence, I have travelled south to North Carolina, and started a month's residency at STARworks, in Star near Seagrove.

Water tower in Star

I expect to fire work in this kiln in the coming weeks 

Testing clays

Work table

Andres Allik from Estonia is here and has erected this fibre kiln

Today's work