Alfred University Summer Ceramics, Saturday July 8th
Today I returned to the studio after a two-day trip back to New Jersey to see son, Jonathan and his wife Iris, who were visiting from Durham, North Carolina. It was a quiet Saturday morning, with not much activity. I was pleased to see that the soda kiln bricks were removed from the front of the outdoor kiln, and so I took out some of my pieces. Next to the outdoor kiln I was unloading, a second kiln was heating up (see video clip) — it was so hot, I could not stand comfortably within a meter of the kiln. Inside, in the kiln room, I discovered I had six bowls out of the bisque, now ready for glazing.
Opening a kiln is always exciting and full of anticipation. Often I’m at first disappointed with the results, but then the pieces grow on me. It helps when others examine them and point out the unique and intriguing colors and designs left by the intense firing. From of the soda kiln I had four bowls and a plate. I love the way the unglazed regions became salt-glazed, and overall, I was very pleased with the results.
I tried out my new mold, throwing two plates on it. At first I left the mold, as is, but on the second plate, I added a triangle and a square to complement the impressed circle. I had some difficulties figuring out how to put on a foot, and also how to support the plate as it dried. We’ll see how it turns out; I think it could be an attractive plate for serving cheeses, maybe with walnuts and dried apricots.
Later in the afternoon, the cone 10 reduction kiln was cool enough to open. In this kiln I had 7 mugs, 4 bowls, 3 tea cups, and a cross plate — all still nearly too hot to touch. It was fun and pleasing to see the results! It amazes me how much shrinkage occurs in the cone 10 firing. What once were medium-sized bowls, are now on the small side.
In the evening a few students and In-Chin stopped by. They had spent the day at the glass museum in Corning. In-Chin was very complementary of the Yellow Salt with Haden Red glaze from Cone 10 reduction; and he suggested I explore this combination more in my next firing. My potter neighbor Julia also stopped by and we discussed each others glazed pieces. It was very helpful, as she saw things I missed. Enjoying the resulting glazed pottery is indeed a communal activity.
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