Russell Wrankle

Gathering Influences

2012-02-02T20:57:00.003-07:00

I make discoveries through the process of making. The crab claw, for example, has been an important image in my work for some time but recently it took on significant meaning. The first crab claw I ever made was the result of an 'all you can eat' dinner at a Chinese Buffet. The hot buttery crab claw in my hand demanded that it be clay. I wrapped the thing up in my napkin, brought it home and made one the next day. Over the past few years, I've made several sculptures and attached the crab claw in various ways with no special significance attached.

In his book The Emperor of all Maladies, Siddhartha Mukherjee says, "It was in the time of Hippocrates, around 400BC that a word for cancer first appeared in the medical literature: karkinos, from the Greek word for crab. The tumor, with its clutch of swollen blood vessels around it, reminded Hippocrates of a crab dug in the sand with its legs spread in a circle. The image was peculiar (few cancers truly resemble crabs), but also vivid."

After reading this I quickly made the connection to the Zodiac sign of Cancer and the image of the crab. As a result the crab claw no longer functions as "decoration", but is an important conceptual component to my work. Also, my dad recently died from skin cancer so I was primed for this new information. If you scroll down, you can see the different uses of the crab claw. The hare with the crab claw piercing the skin (below) is the most recent.

The frog holds no special meaning at this point. Sure there are words and snippets of phrases that emerge in my thinking but nothing substantial at this point. This is the first one made and like the crab, I expect it to take on meaning as my hands work through ideas.

A Student's Review of my Work

2012-01-29T17:34:00.002-07:00

This is an excerpt by Rachel Indelicato, a young college student at St Louis Community College Meramec, whom I met this last week after my lecture/workshop there. She was required by her teacher, Jim Ibur, to write a review of a themed exhibit that he curated called "Death and Rebirth". I contributed with the two pieces that are shown in this blog. Rachel is quite the writer and I like her insight into my work. She has a bright future.

Death and Rebirth

There were two sculptures that especially caught my eye. They were by a man named Russell Wrankle. I was immediately drawn to their smooth, matte look. The first was Cancer. This piece depicted a sitting hare with a crab claw cutting through its skin. The hare had a somewhat comical, yet still serious, look to it; the face had a humanistic startled expression and the body appeared tense. The rabbit is a stout primary yellow and the crab claw is an eye catching, bright primary red. To me, the hare symbolizes agility and longevity. The crab claw, cancer, weakness, and death. This makes me think of someone who may be fit and healthy, but had his or her life cut short by cancer, or is battling cancer.

The piece next to it was called Leporidae. Leporidae is the scientific family of hares and rabbits. In this sculpture, the hare is standing on his neck and shoulders with his back straight and feet in the air. In his feet he is holding the skull of what seems to be another hare. The hare is in a silly position. He is playing with death. He has the same smooth look as the yellow hare, but he has a tame, light vermillion color to him. The skull is stark white. When I saw these pieces, I saw them as a pair playing off each other. A force of death is overpowering the first hare, and the second is entertaining himself with it.

New Tile Design

2012-01-15T19:26:00.013-07:00

The rectangle idea has been brewing for several years and just recently I had my friend, Jim, make a new tile frame.

These tiles represent three of the first 11 that I recently made with Jim's new tile frame. To see the rest, go to my Etsy page and browse http://www.etsy.com/shop/toquervilleclay?view_type=gallery And don't hesitate to buy one so that I can purchase more clay from my supplier.

Anything Is Possible

2011-12-04T20:11:00.063-07:00

"Starry Starry Night" After School Art Club Mural

I am writing as a guest writer about the importance of the arts in our children's lives. I am currently working as a visual art specialist at LaVerkin Elementary School in Southern Utah. I have been teaching there for a total of eight years. What began as a completely voluntary position turned into a part time position funded by Trust Lands money and then I applied for and was awarded a grant which has given me a full time position for the past three years.

When I began having my children I knew that I wanted them to have the arts as part of their education. Much to my chagrin, the local schools were completely void of the arts and I took it upon myself to teach them. At first, the principal put me in a closet and then I was moved from classrooms to portables, and now, finally a room of my own. Perseverance, perspiration, vision and longevity made it happen. What was once a pipe dream has now become reality and one that will leave a lasting legacy at the school. All three of my children have had a complete visual arts education, from color theory to art history.

In the past eight years I have grown and honed my skills as an educator. I have learned how to integrate the arts into the core curriculum being taught in each classroom. By doing so, it is proven that children are able to make connections easier and therefore learn much quicker when they experience academic concepts through the visual arts. The grant that funds my position at the elementary school expects each specialist to integrate the arts in every lesson and involve the teacher in every session. Quite a tall order, but it is very successful when done correctly.

Ella and a friend at Arts Night Treasure Hunt

In April of 2012, I will graduate with my Master's Degree of Education with an Art Emphasis. This will have taken me three long years to complete. It has taught me to raise the bar and make my lessons more academic with higher order thinking skills and core integration. It has given me the opportunity to interact with professors and professionals who teach with the end in mind. Teachers who know what the research says and align their teaching to meet those concepts.

Most importantly, over the past eight years that I have spent teaching art at LaVerkin Elementary, I have watched an amazing transformation overtake the students as individuals and as a whole. The students have an understanding of art concepts at an earlier age, their motor skills are more refined, they are making connections between the global world and their own. They have a joy in their eyes knowing they are part of something human and beautiful and their zest for life is evident when they walk through my classroom door!

Art is not only therapeutic, but academic, and proven to help children's brains grow and develop and make complex connections to their world. Art has brought the joy back to LaVerkin Elementary; the constant reminders are everywhere. The difference is evident in the faces of the special needs children who get their own special art class every week. It is evident in the quiet, private moments when a child is divulging that their parents are getting a divorce while their hands are busy making art. It is evident in the assemblies where children's art dots the stage as part of the set, and lastly, it is visually evident in our wonderful "Starry, Starry Night" mural that our after school club completed after two years of after school clubs.

Art is alive in LaVerkin. It is pervading the school and my hope now is that it will spill into the community with an outdoor children's project this summer. Art changes lives. It has changed mine, my children's and the 600 students at the elementary school. I hope the arts will continue and expand into more elementary schools and every child will receive a quality, thoughtful arts education.

I Quit

2011-11-13T17:21:00.002-07:00

My artistic path began at the potters wheel, the hypnotic rotation of the pot growing at my touch, the slathery clay in between my fingers. Not to mention the notion of a romantic life style of the quiet potter toiling away in his studio to create useful beauty. I was young when I considered pursuing art as a lifestyle. No longer does this mystique answer my creative drive.

The last time I made pottery was about a year ago. Since then I've been in a few invitational pottery exhibits and used pots that I had left over. The last invitation to exhibit a teapot was from a prestigious gallery that was attending SOFA(Sculpture Objects and Functional Art) in Chicago. I made it as far as the trimming and seating of the lid and, for the first time, I made press molds for the handle and spout (knowing this is the point at which I lose interest). However, I gave up when it was time to attach the spout and handle. I didn't have the patience to follow through to the end.

I am not quitting sculpture, however. Interestingly, the same additive and subtractive processes that I use for making a spout or handle I also employ for making a crab claw or the foot of a hare. In fact, the time consuming nature of the way I work increases with sculpture. I can stay with a hare for hours, days and months if necessary.

During my growing up years, there was no academic discipline in my home. Embarrassingly, I read my first book in the 11th or 12th grade, "The Old Man and the Sea". It was the first time that I experienced art in a way that transported me to another life and time. I can still conjure up mental images of the old man, a fisherman, Santiago, with cramped hands, his "dry spell" broken as he's pulled out to sea by the 18' Marlin, "What kind of hand is that," Santiago says, "Cramp then if you want. Make yourself into a claw. It will do you no good". Eventually the marlin dies of exhaustion, too large to bring on deck, the old man lashes it to the side of his skiff. He awaits night fall so the lights of Havana can guide him in his arduous return to shore. Then the the eventual degradation of his catch by predatory sharks. Hemingway created a character that "remained undefeated after losing his hard earned, most valuable possession", a fictional character whose mind I was able to enter and a person I knew better than most people in real life. I left my reality and found empathy in a simulated world.

When I make pottery I think formally: form, function, surface, craftmanship and beauty. All noble pursuits and things that I value in the work of other potters. With sculpture I think formally and, additionally, I think about narrative. I think of visual metaphor, story and layers of meaning.

The advantage of discovering story later in life (if there is one) is that I know what it's like not to have my head filled with ideas. Sure, there was wild, hardscrabble adventure with nature (there was no nature deficit) that I draw upon in my sculpture, but no books. Once I read my first story, there was no returning.

We've held a holiday sale each year for the past 10 years. By now, I'd be elbow deep in turning crockery for our gallery shelves. This year however, I'm not interested in making pottery just for money. The clay's sensuality on the wheel that drove me years ago, no longer seduces me. There's fear and a sense of loss associated with this admission. My customers have come to expect my sale. My hope is that my audience will grow with me and evolve as I evolve. Hopefully new opportunities will emerge that would not otherwise had I continued to straddle both worlds.

What I Learned at Summer Art Camp

2011-08-11T16:08:00.001-06:00

I arrived at Red Lodge Clay Center for the Artist Invite Artist Residency this summer with different expectations than what I accomplished. I wanted to complete at least three new pieces. Once I arrived and started working with the other artists, my idea shifted from making completed sculpture to making a mold of just one sculpture. Jason Hess and Brenda Lichman were making molds of teapot spouts and handles and I wanted in on the action. I cut an almost completed sculpture into pieces to avoid undercuts and spent a day making molds. The mold that produced the two pieces above is what I came home with.

Since I cut the sculpture into pieces to make the mold, it comes out of the mold in pieces as well that I then have to put together. I'm guessing that the piece is 3/4 closer to being finished with the mold process than if I started the piece from a bag of clay.

My reason for making the mold is so that I can focus more on the narrative of the piece. For example, I don't have to make a new hare if the impetus is to pierce the skin of the hare with a crab claw (above). I already have the hare as a "ready made" which frees me up to take more risks with the narrative since I have less time and hence less emotion invested in the piece.

I like to evolve within an existing aesthetic/formal framework with each new piece. Before molds this was accomplished by answering questions that arise from the making of the previous piece. My fear is that the mold disrupts artistic question and answer and commits me to a particular form. I have put off making molds for years for this very reason. We'll see if the ease of exploring narrative outweigh the inability to explore form.

I made the mold of the hare holding the monkey skull when I returned home with what I learned at RLCC. This is the second piece that I made with a hare holding an object with its hind feet but the first from a mold. The first one holds a human skull (see below). The next one will hold a human brain and a hammerhead shark is in the works. Here the time spent on narrative versus form works well. Instead of making a new hare each time so that I can place an object in its feet, I can now spend more time on narrative and the relationship between two seemingly disparate objects.

New Work for Red Lodge and Beyond

2011-06-03T10:00:00.002-06:00

"Crabbit" Kafka-esque

"Red Hare"

Fertility

One of my favorites

Workshop at Mendocino Art Center

2011-05-23T12:56:00.000-06:00

I'll be teaching a workshop at Mendocino Art Center in 5 days and several months ago a potential workshop attendee inquired about the skill level necessary to participate. I responded, in essence by saying; "It matters more what you learn than where you start". Since then, I've had other experiences that confirm this belief.

Work in progress

This past semester at SUU where I teach 3D design as an adjunct professor, I had an older, non-traditional student, who suffered from a degenerative disease. She came into this semester's class with younger, more traditional students. She and five of the younger students have attended studio classes together for the past 2 or three semesters and knew each other well. All her younger peers were very exceptional students and by contrast she really struggled, at first.

Fresh From the kiln

One afternoon she and I were working on one of her projects when she broke down because her hands weren't doing what her mind wanted and she found some simple concepts to be a challenge. She compared herself to the younger students by commenting on how everyone else in class is more prepared than her and wondered out loud if she should even be in college. Her insecurity lead to an interesting class discussion prefaced by a story from my background.

In high school I was the class clown and had no interest in academics. The first book I read was "Old Man and the Sea" and that was in 12th grade. Drugs, alcohol and chasing girls were my only interest.... and college? Well, I wasn't smart enough for that. At this point in the story I asked the class, "How many of you in here think that all of your peers in this class are smarter and more prepared than you". Every hand raised without hesitation.

We then talked about the idea that art is made with limitations and that the artist needs to figure out a way to work within the parameters given. Chuck Close, who became confined to a wheel chair in his forties and has limited use of his arms, figured out a way to strap brushes to his wrists and use a pulley system to raise and lower his large canvases which allowed him to continue to paint. The assignments that I give are at times specific and require the student to figure out the limitations of the material and then exploit it.

I then told my non traditional student; "Based on my background I never imagined myself teaching". I thought for a long time that my undisciplined background stood in the way of anything academic, "Yet, here I am."

This pink will be red tomorrow

I've been lucky, circumstances opened up possibilities and I took advantage of them despite the limiting parameters I began with. In the case of my non-traditional student she has her own physical parameters and with some effort and difficult work, she can learn to exploit who she is. "In the end", I told her, "It's not where you start in college. You don't get an education because you know it all, but rather it's what you learn along the way that matters."

So if you're interested in taking my workshop but not sure about your skill level, sign up anyway. We'll have some fun and grow together in the active pursuit of making art.

The Stone Container Distraction

2011-05-01T13:22:00.003-06:00

This is a welcome distraction from my usual artistic explorations. I was invited along with other ceramic artists to make work in response to an industrial complex called the "Stone Container" that closed down in Missoula, Montana. My knowledge of the industry is limited except for the name and some online images.

The show title is "Stone Container", curated by Danny Crump for the Clay Studio of Missoula. The images and title were the only parameters given. At first I tried to adapt my animals into the concept and realized quickly that I needed to make something entirely new. After looking at photos of the place, I zeroed in on the piping, specifically the flanges and elbow fittings. Originally, I was going to squeeze a hare through the fittings and decided that this idea was too contrived for my sensibilities. Instead, I chose to make bags or sacks while exploring the idea of hard and soft, contained weight and the tug of gravity on material.

Recently I was having a conversation with a friend about a patron who wanted to buy his art. This "patron" was more interested in art that matched her sofa, curtains and the overall decor of her home. This is not an unfamiliar complaint. Artists want their work to be valued on its own merits and I agree. But it occurred to me in the context of this "Stone Container" work that artists have a responsibility to help drive the conversation, to make work that's more than decoration and move into some other arena. Maybe the idea in their work isn't strong enough to override this need to match the color of a lampshade.

As artists, we often dismiss the public as not smart enough to "get it", but what is our responsibility? If you're making work that generates one kind of conversation, or it attracts a certain audience that you don't like or respect, then maybe you should explore some new ideas.

My tiles are an example of decorative work. I work within an aesthetic framework yet I am often asked to tweak the color and I don't mind. They are beautiful and decorative . My sculpture is another matter. As far as I know it has never been purchased to match a sofa. At least my patrons have never asked me to change the glaze color to suit their needs. With this "Stone Container" work, I bet it will be purchased for a reason beyond decor.

Evolution of an Idea

2011-03-06T19:25:00.005-07:00

Several months ago, soon after my first few hare sculptures were completed, I was having lunch with Susan Harris, SUU Ceramics Professor and colleague. The sculptures were still new to me and the meaning wasn’t (and still isn't) yet solidified in my thoughts. She asked off offhandedly, “So what are those hares about anyway”? I replied, “Sex”, with the intent to scandalize her while vaguely referencing the hare’s historical symbol of fertility. Completely unfazed and not missing a beat she said, “Sex is a good antidote to death”.

That same week my dad died from Squamous Cell Carcinoma and before Susan’s question we were talking about our shared experience of losing a parent. His death was slow and painful and he left this world scratching and clinging to life. Watching him diminish in confidence and fierceness left me confused and disoriented. We were never close, but he was still my dad and I expected him to always be strong and hated to see him suffer in pain and fear. It was the fear that shook me the most.

When Susan mentioned the “antidote” it gave me pause. Up until now, I had never thought about these sculptures in the context of my dad's cancer and death. I realized at that moment that I was only partially correct; these can't be just about sex and fertility, but more about conviviality and living a full life doing what we enjoy and embracing the ones we love. They represent everything antithetical to death and dying. My hare sculptures stand as a symbol of reveling in the pleasure of living, keeping the gravitational pull of death and suffering at a distance as they continually orbit around us.

I considered making the hare for a few years before my first attempt. I hesitated, primarily, because I wasn’t sure why I should, or how the hare as subject would contribute to a larger artistic conversation. There are other artists using the hare beautifully in their work and I felt slightly intimidated, but in the end my interest overruled my apprehension.

Over the next few days, after Susan made her comment, I reviewed the chronology of the idea’s development. I started making the hare soon after I got the first phone call one evening while grilling steaks on the back porch. I knew then that the fear and doubt that were behind their hopeful words belied the truth. I gave encouragement knowing deep down that it was just a matter of time before the cancer killed him. I began this current body of work and continued during his decline and death.

Since that conversation with Susan, I've been exploring the idea of life and death in the imagery of hares, crabs, and more recently, monkey and human skulls searching for ways to incorporate the concept in my work. The hare is still something that keeps me returning to the studio. My flippant answer and Susan’s response had some truth to it and more so as the work develops. She unknowingly nudged me closer to a clearer understanding of my work.

So yes, give me some of that antidote and then some.

On Showing Up

2011-02-21T18:53:00.003-07:00

The other day, a friend stopped by for a visit and asked how my sculpture was coming and my answer was' "Good, I'm still showing up". Not so eloquent of an answer to be sure, but it occurred to me later that the success I enjoy and the facility I have with clay is directly related to my consistent studio practice.

There are plenty of reasons for not getting to the studio; family responsibilities and other obligations of life, but mostly these reasons are associated with self doubt. Questions such as; Is the idea or concept behind the work smart enough? Does my skill level allow me to complete the idea? How will my work be accepted among my peers and critics? Can I get into the next exhibit or does my work make any sense? Is my work original? I toil over these question constantly, while in the studio manipulating the clay and in my more quiet moments. As debilitating as these questions are, I feel the self doubt and get to work any way.

Early on in my art education, my first art teacher, Von Allen, would give us "budding artists" the assignment to make something 10 times, either from historical art references or a household tool or whatever we fancied that had 3 dimensional qualities. Her theory was that once a person begins to make something, the process activates the mind in ways that theorizing and thinking alone does not do. By the time her students reached the tenth attempt, the starting point would fade into the back ground and through the natural creative process the unique voice of the maker/student would emerge.

I still continue this practice in my day to day studio time. I have no special innate talent except possibly an affinity to labor over a piece for days or weeks until it "feels right". If you asked my friend JRH of http://sabrosacycles.com/http://sabrosacycles.com/ if his bike building skill came easy, I bet he would tell you hours in the shop, lots of practice and a few failures along the way gave him the skill set to create beautiful and well crafted bicycles. Or my other friend Steve Olpin will confess that his artistic work with film and the documentary format is a result of working with the medium and refining his narrative voice. Ask another respected ceramic artist or artist in any other medium and I bet they will tell you something similar; work at your art every day and continually push your skill level, always ask the next question, and this will give rise to good work.

The other day I gave a slide lecture about my body of work from my early years until now. I realized that there is a general incline in the graph of my creative progress with a few spikes and steep upticks along the way. Many of these creative leaps occurred due to external input such as discovering Pre-Colombian ceramic sculpture in Graduate School or a work of fiction that I read at the right time in my artistic development. But none of these external influences would have had an aesthetic/conceptual impact on me had I not been in the studio.

I have about five sculptures that are in progress including, hares, catfish, monkey skulls, tortoises and crab claws that still require a conceptual connection. It will come. So to my friend, " My work IS going well because I am showing up and getting my hands dirty, waiting and coaxing the inevitable discovery."

On the Move

2011-01-18T12:45:00.004-07:00

This "Hanging Hare" has been on the move. It was purchased in Portland, Oregon from a solo show I had there two years ago. A few months ago it was shipped to Northern Arizona University where it was a part of the exhibit "Across Cultures: Fifty Objects from the Macy Collection". Click on the show title to see all the other wonderful objects that were on display. Eventually, this piece will be a part of NAU's permanent collection.

Eviscerate

2011-01-09T21:59:00.001-07:00

I started this piece a few weeks ago and it came together relatively fast. The meaning is still evolving. For this post I'll refer to Kafka's "Metamorphosis". I'll delve deeper into the Hare/crab claw meaning in the future. Below are a series of images that describe how the work is made solid then cut into pieces and hollowed out.

I like this view. Tendons.

The head is lopped off.

Then the arms.

Finally the legs and we're left with the torso.

Here's an image of all the body parts waiting to be eviscerated.

Compare the the torso that's been hollowed out with the one that's still solid. The hollowing out process takes most of the day. That is if work to get it consistently thin throughout. The big parts are completed pretty quickly. It's the legs and feet that take the time with the delicate work.

What I Learned from Charity

2010-12-12T09:33:00.002-07:00

I am the proud owner of a new Charity Davis-Woodard cup. It came in to my possession a few days ago when Charity left our home for California. While she was here, we enjoyed long conversations about pottery, art, relationships and price. Yes, price. We both struggle with how to put monetary value on our work. I tend to be low in price with the idea that I want my work to be used everyday without concern for breakage and chipping. In my mind, keeping the price "affordable" allows for the freedom of casual use of my pottery.

Now that I've lived with my new mug for a few days, and in response to having Charity join us for our Holiday Sale, I'm changing my mind. There are a few reasons why I like this mug from Charity. I know her and value her friendship. I know the effort that goes into each piece. Her voice expressed in clay is unique and thoughtful and yes, her mug costs $50. All these add up to a mug that I reach for every morning to use for my coffee. When I'm finished with my morning cup, I clean it, dry it and place it up high on a shelf. I now believe, in contrast with my previous thoughts, that it's good to elevate the everyday (mundane?) to more of a ritualistic, joy filled experience. This is what Charity's mug provides for me. So pay more and elevate your day with handmade and more expensive pottery and treat it better than you would other objects in your life.

Holiday Pottery in Progress

2010-11-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

I have been busy making work for the Holiday Sale December 4 and 5. http://www.toquervilleclay.com/ This picture was taken about a week ago. Today I'll be glazing and hopefully getting the kiln loaded. This year I made the throwing cut off a week earlier and glad I did, I need the time. It always takes me longer than I plan and this kiln load is taking even longer.

Toquerville 8th Annual Holiday Sale

2010-11-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

Below is a copy of my email newsletter that I sent a few weeks ago. If you want to receive future newsletters,(3-4 a year) go to my website http://www.toquervilleclay.com/and sign up. In the mean time, have a read below and enjoy the images of Charity and Greg's work. Both of them and their art will be here.

8th Annual Holiday Sale.
Dec 4 and 5.
Saturday 10am-4pm
Sunday 11am -4pm
Slide Talk Saturday 7pm Toquerville Town Hall.

There is something about the way writers write about their craft that appeals to me. In the forward to this year's Best American Short Stories, Richard Russo states that "the best art always has the power to seduce its creator" and that the writers selected for this publication use "language ..... in the service of narrative". As a maker of objects, this resonates with me. My studio practice is a life long affair with clay and the day to day struggles with form and idea produce the occasional seduction by beauty. My expectations are high and there are more failures than successes, but when what I make equals or exceeds what I imagine, the romance is continues. This is achieved through an editing down of visual information until the essence of the thing is revealed and when I put the medium (clay) in the service of beauty.

Russo continues, quoting JD Salinger, "writers may have begun writing for themselves, but in the end, they turn outward, offering us the gift of what they'd crafted with such care, hoping we'd be pleased". It pleases me that past invited artist's work dwells in the homes of my neighbors and that their lives are enriched by the "outward " nature of their art making.

Made by Charity Davis-Woodard Edwardsville, Illinois

Made By Greg Istock Virgin, Utah

Made By Russell Wrankle Toquerville Utah

Come to this years Holiday Sale prepare yourself to be seduced by the line, color, surface, shape and content of Charity Davis-Woodards wood fired pottery and Greg Istock's paintings. Their art will have a visceral effect on you. More images and info can be found on my website.

Pretty Girls

2010-09-21T20:08:00.000-06:00

The other day a lady stopped by from the area to purchase a wedding gift. We ended up spending some time together talking about our history, where we were from, etc. and she mentioned that she used to perform with "Up with People". I knew all about the 70's dance and song group, they used to come to my high school in Palm Springs, California and perform. As a kid, I loved this group, their dancing and singing and the pretty girls. I wondered about "Up with People" during my adult years and realized they must have been a right leaning propaganda machine in the guise of entertainment. All I remember are the pretty girls.

Speaking of pretty girls, during those same years, I had a teacher (2nd or 3rd grade?) that used to read books to the class. She sat on a stool while she read and would remove one of her high heel spikey shoes and rub her ankle and back of her calf with her bare or stockinged foot. Sitting on the floor at foot and knee level, I didn't pay attention to the story she was reading, just that there was something going on down below with that foot. I was too young to know, but I remember getting that "feeling" that I recognize all to well now.

I write about this because last week, Peter Stempel from Stempel Form Architecural Firm brought over his summer interns for a studio tour and discussion. During their visit the foot fetish story formed in my mind for the first time. It has always been lurking in the back of my mind but more as an impression and feeling. I spoke about this then in the context of discussing my sculpture. I mentioned that in almost every animal that I make, especially the hare, I cross the hind legs in a way that reminds me of the way my teacher would rub her calf muscle with her other foot.

A few years ago, I was attending a parent teacher conference for one of my kids. The teacher was new, young and right out of college. She dressed provocatively with a short skirt and high heel boots and do you think I remember much of what she said? I do of course, (she was a bad teacher ie, on line shopping when she should have been teaching) but I wonder if there are little boys in her class that have tuned out her words in favor of how she dresses.

Up with People, pretty girls. My elementary school teacher, pretty girl. My kid's teacher, pretty girl. Living in such a conservative state, Lori and I worry about the right wing religious messages our kids are getting. It occurs to me that the worry is unfounded. Based on my experience, it doesn't sink in and may even serve as jewels later in life to be mined for art.

There are other influences as well and as they wriggle their way into consciousness, I'll post.

Red Hares Gone

2010-09-21T16:12:00.001-06:00

Sending these two Red Hare Sculptures to San Luis Obispo Museum of Art for their Narrative Animal Imagery Exhibit. It runs from October 8 - November 12. If you're in the vicinity, stop in and tell me how the show looks. I unloaded the kiln and packed them off. I prefer to live with them awhile to determine how I can make the next one better. Deadlines get in the way of internal dialogue.

Busking at Red Lodge Montana

2010-07-13T15:53:00.000-06:00

Brynn and Eli in front of the Red Lodge Clay Center busking for money during my opening last month. They both did pretty well making enough money to raid the Candy Emporium down the street. It all ended though when a 100% drunk lady emerged from one of the many bars with her equally drunk companion and used Brynn as a leaning post and fumed inches from her face "your music is gold to my soul". We weren't around for a few seconds and when David the Director's wife Maggy came around the corner, Brynn's bow was scratching the strings and she had tears in her eyes. That was it for both of them. They put their violins away and beat it on down to the candy shop. I guess they learned a lesson when entertaining the public, you have to be prepared for anything.

Red Lodge Clay Center

2010-07-02T12:52:00.000-06:00

Here are three sculptures I've been working on here at the Red Lodge Clay Center in Montana. The family and I have been here for three weeks as I'm enjoying a short term residency. This is a wonderful place to make work and to be around other artists that have similar interests and give me a creative boost. Along with the studio facility there is a gallery in the center of town that represents world class artists. I am inspired by the unique artistic voices that are on display here. Roaming around the gallery and holding pottery by artists for the first time that I have admired for years is a humbling experience. I'll return home with three new pieces and enough ideas to last for some time.
The plate is made by Emily Free Wilson, one of the artists represented at Red Lodge Clay Center Gallery. It is now in our collection. Love it.

Price vs Value

2010-06-10T15:27:00.007-06:00

"Let me know when you pay $2500 for a ceramic rabbit." This was a response to my Facebook post of a show I'm having at Red Lodge Clay Center. The show is online with the corresponding prices. I don't know this gentleman but he doesn't seem to value my work. If I'm interpreting his statement correctly, I wonder if he questions all art that's priced higher than say $25, $50 or even $100. He may have a legitimate criticism of my work and if so fine. Any price would be too much if he believes my art doesn't measure up to his artistic standards. But to dismiss my work as too expensive because he can't afford it, then he needs reconsider his values.

I'd buy a $2500 piece of art and have. One of the most difficult purchases we ever made was several years ago when my wife and I purchased a butter dish. I was attending grad school, we had no money and were in dept. My wife and I huddled in the corner of the exhibiting gallery and deliberated over the price and decided that the sacrifice of giving something up was worth owning the beautiful Ellen Shankin butter dish. It wasn't $2500, but should have been relative to the income we were making at the time. We didn't "need" it, an inexpensive dish from Walmart would have accomplished the same task for much less. But we value beauty and high craft. We have made other "painful" purchases since, but this was the most challenging. That dish is still in use 15 years later and the story behind it remains.

I have a friend that builds bicycles by hand. Jon of sabrosa cycles lives down the road in St. George and his bikes are expensive. They cost as much as my "$2500 ceramic Rabbit" or more. I'd own one and will someday. The craftsmanship is impeccable and the ride is outstanding.(I'd go for the "twentyniner/hard tail") I own a nice bike as it is, but it's mass produced. His bikes are made entirely by hand and Jon has developed his craft through dedication and a desire to always improve. Also, by purchasing one of his bikes I would help pay for the next batch of tubing so that he can continue to improve as a bike maker and craftsman. I've been in his "Bike Studio" while he works and he puts those hand files and that sand paper through their paces.

Recently, an original Marvel comic sold at auction for a few million dollars. A guy I work with would pay that amount if he could, he grew up on comics from the fist issue and loves them. He puts a high premium on comics. I on the other hand would pass on a comic for the purchase of say a Don Reitz pot, a Peter Volkus vessel or a Lisa Clague sculpture. Not as pricey as the comic, but getting up there. Again, this is what I value.

I came across this quote from Oscar Wilde while thinking about this subject, "Most people these days know the price of everything and the value of nothing". We all have a value structure that holds some things in higher regard than others. But if you question the price of a sculpture, be consistent and question the price of other less meaningful potential purchases.

It may be awhile before I can tell my friend that I spent $2500 on a ceramic rabbit or it's equivalent, but if enough folks out there value what I make, maybe it will be sooner than I think.

A Tile Story

2010-05-31T17:13:00.004-06:00

The top tile is in the style of the first one I made about 11 years ago. Previous to this tile, I began experimenting with tile making and they were more "commercial" with thick, glossy glazes. They were nice, but my heart wasn't entirely in them. I equated them more with money than a personal artistic expression. After spending several months on this other commercial tile, I was reading an article in an art magazine about a painter who paints seeds into her canvas. As the son of a gardener, I was already inclined towards seeds and plants, so this article piqued my interest.

At that moment, I abandoned all my previous efforts and began making tiles with nine bumps as shown above. I combined the painter's idea with my experience of a seed bulging the soil just before the first stem breaks the surface. After 10 years of making, they have evolved from the original.

From the original tile with the implied sprouting seed, I began to apply slip to the tiles. Again, the first ones are quite different but the idea remains. Over the years, I've experimented with different patterns and texture tools. Some patterns languish and I forget about them only to rediscover some past ideas several month later. Then I combine old ideas with current textures, and over time I have an entirely new tile, all within the same aesthetic framework.

This one is new and it's created by drawing my finger through the slip along an axis to create this leaf/rib pattern.

We moved to Toquerville 10 years ago and I came here with the new tiles in mind. I quickly set to work making them and they were a sudden hit both here at our home gallery and wholesale around the country. With the building/construction boom, I couldn't make them fast enough. In the past year or so sales have slowed down and they are just now beginning to pick up again.

We miss the money that came from their previous success (who doesn't these days?), but we celebrate the timing of their success. We moved here with no prospect of a job, just an idea to make art from clay and hope for the best. If it weren't for the tiles, we might not have gotten a foot hold here in Southern Utah.

There's an irony here. The first tiles that I experimented with were just to make money and they might have worked as intended, I'll never know. These tiles however, have been hugely successful and I've made them because I love making them; no thought of money, no drudgery, just the love of material, line, texture and color.

Thank you to all that have supported us over the years. If you would like to see a slide show of how they are made, go to my website and watch.

Hopalong

2010-05-14T20:51:00.002-06:00

I love this glaze. If I could be glazed I'd want to be glazed this buttery red. Packed, in the box and off to Red Lodge, Montana.

Mostly Good

2010-05-12T12:08:00.004-06:00

I love this glaze when it turns orange and green. I have used it for years and just recently figured out how to exploit its possibilities. At first I applied the glaze in one dip after various wax resist applications. Now I water down the glaze quite thin, dip once then apply wax resist. After the resist dries, I dip again and behold a real dynamic glaze surface.
Same with this glaze. Thinner is better, you get more green and the crystal growth makes me happy. I think the crystals develop with the slow cooling. This kiln is large enough to retain the heat for a long time. Two days of cooling and I'm still wearing gloves to open the kiln.
Another successful glaze application.
I changed the shape of my pitchers and gave them more of a neck. I like this new shape, it opens up possibilities to change the handle angle and spout size. Looking forward to continue exploring the strengths of this form.
It's interesting to me that you can work with a glaze for a long time then suddenly realize there's a better way. That's why I only work with 3-4 glazes, the possibilities are endless when there's time to focus. Too many glazes lends to the temptation to discover the next best thing instead of exploring the depths of what you already have.

In all a good firing. Some pieces that I looked forward to like plates were disappointing. I'm going to place them in another location in the kiln next time. If you make enough work you'll get something good.

You Can't Prove a Negative

2010-05-07T20:46:00.003-06:00

The sweet spot in this kiln is the right side of the top shelf. I usually place teapots and other vessels here that are more complicated and require a lot of time and effort in making. After getting the kiln mostly loaded, I second guessed the placement of the teapots, specifically the handles. I don't like handles and spouts to be exposed to direct flame, the extra heat can distort the shape and wash out the glaze. So I abandoned the kiln loading, came in the house for a pre-dinner cocktail (or two), then after dinner I came back to the kiln and re-stacked these five pots.
This picture represents the finished stack. I tucked two of the teapots behind the pitcher and the third one that you can see is not as exposed to the flame. I have no way of knowing if this was the right decision. Once it's fired, I have nothing specific to compare it to.

Over the years I've learned to depend on intuition. The problem is that when I get these doubts and concerns about what I'm doing, I tend to stop and think about it for a long time. In the evenings as I fall asleep, I commit myself to being better at making decisions in a more timely manner, but I don't. It's a little thing, these five pots, but I sure can get worked up about it.

I'll post the outcome this Sunday, May 9th.

Almost There

2010-04-21T20:18:00.004-06:00

Here are two nearly (dry then glaze) finished pieces that will be on their way to http://www.redlodgeclaycenter.com/ in Montana. I'm having a solo show in conjunction with my three week residency. The one on top with the tortoise shell took me several months to complete. This was the first time I used the tortoise shell imagery and couldn't make up my mind how to attach it, let alone how to create the shell texture. So because of my continued artistic confusion and indecision I labored over this for a long, long time. With the deadline approaching, I was forced to make a decision and I'm glad I did. This might be my favorite sculpture in along time.
This sculpture started out as a rhyton (visit my website), but after it was half way finished I got a 3am idea to put the hare on its tip toes. I've done this before, but wanted to try it again to see if I can be more successful. I'm happy to report that I'm satisfied that this hare is sufficiency standing on it hind toes, especially the hind leg that's furthest away. I'll take an official picture and focus on the tip toe after it's glazed.

I have two more sculptures in the house that are bisqued and ready to glaze, plus two more in my studio that require hollowing out and refining. The deadline is coming up fast so I'll be putting in some studio time.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

2010-04-11T21:45:00.005-06:00

A few posts ago, I mentioned a new ocular orb technique. After living with two finished attempts I have decided that I'm not completely satisfied with the results. For one, I haven't figured out how to make the orb come to the edge of the eye lid. I assume (having never dissected an eye) that it's round, so when I made the ball of clay into an orb, it didn't come to the edge of the brow and lid and appears to be looking up as the top of the orb is inset too far. For some reason, it only does this after I drill the hole in the orb to create the iris.

One thing that remains from the new discovery is removing the eye and surrounding area. This makes it easier for me to get to the hard to reach places, such as under the lid and into the iris. I can turn the piece in my hand instead of trying to access these areas while in the head that is attached to the body.

So now I cut the eye, brow and part of the cheek out after it's almost complete and add small bits of clay to the orb with a tiny brush until it meets my aesthetic expectations. It's not as fast as I had hoped, but faster than the old way and the results are still believable.

Landscape, Self Portrait and Still Life by Kent Wing

2010-03-22T21:32:00.007-06:00

Yesterday I was toiling away in my studio when Kent Wing and his wife stopped by. It has been 25 years since we've been acquainted. It's nice to see that he's still at it and painting beautifully. See his website for more images of his work.
http://www.kentwingart.com/My_Site/Home.html

Art and Perception Magazine Article

2010-02-25T19:31:00.005-07:00

This is an article that just came out in Ceramics: Art and Perception magazine: http://www.ceramicart.com.au/index.shtml. The ink is still wet as it only went public yesterday. It was written by my friend Peter Stempel, a local/international architect and artist. http://stempelform.com/ By clicking on the article, it will increase the size of the print so that you can actually read it.

Leave a comment. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Better From Behind

2010-02-21T19:02:00.012-07:00

About three weeks ago, during one of my 3am wakeful musings, I came up with the idea to put the eyeball and pupil in the eye socket from behind. By cutting out the eye and forehead, it allows access to the eye lid from behind instead of carving out a hollow and then filling in the brow, eye and pupil, which took a long time and was never satisfactory.

After a few weeks of ruminating, I had a chance to implement my idea. I attempted it yesterday with nominal success and tried it again today, applying what I learned from yesterday's attempt.

It was a huge success.

It is one of those artistic breakthroughs that happens less frequently than it did when I was in the beginning of my career. They also require more effort to achieve.

As my technical skills improve, the graph of my artistic progress gets flatter and flatter.

This was a spike in the artistic graph and it's been awhile since I danced around in my studio celebrating the new discovery. (Continued below.)

From Behind, Continued

2010-02-21T18:54:00.009-07:00

I'm sure this isn't that amazing to the sculptors I admire, but this idea was new to me and it opens all kinds of aesthetic possibilities in the future.It's faster to execute and it looks better.

I wish I could go back and "fix" all the sculptures that I've created before now.

But as we all know, everything that we make is a stepping stone to the next best piece.

After it's put back together, it begins to take on a life of its own and starts telling me what it wants to be.

How many minuscule and profound artistic breakthroughs will it take for a maker of things to become an artist? When will the objects they create become more than the sum of their parts? I'm lucky. I have a wife who supports my art and makes space for me to spend hours a day, searching for new possibilities.

Idea Aids

2010-02-12T16:59:00.006-07:00

I've been able to get a few mountain bike rides in over the past week or so. I like to ride from my house and avoid the car ride to the trail head. The riding could be better; there are no single track near by. This ride takes about an hour and fifteen minutes and 1/3rd of it is on the paved road. The last 2/3rds is on a rock and dirt road. This pic is from my turn around, facing east. Pine Mountain is at my back and I'm facing Toquerville and Zion is off in the distance.

I wonder if there are studies that exist to prove a link between exercise and creativity because every time I ride, the thoughts and ideas begin to flow, unabated. It's difficult for me to tear away from the studio, all the while knowing that my artistic vision is getting increasingly cloudy as the day progresses and my sculpture is becoming overworked. Once I'm away and pedaling, problems are solved and new ideas emerge.

Today I reworked a sculpture, improved my artist statement, and rewrote my teaching philosophy all during my one-hour bike ride. I'd be a better artist if I would ride my bike more consistently.

Work in Progress

2010-02-08T19:27:00.008-07:00

This sculpture is finally finished. That is to say it's drying slowly under plastic waiting to be bisqued and glazed. These pictures show how after completing the piece, I slice it up and hollow it out. I make them solid so that I can manipulate the clay without the piece cracking or collapsing as I search for the right proportion and form.

The series of pieces that I'm currently working on will be on exhibit at Red Lodge Clay Center. http://www.redlodgeclaycenter.com/ I'm having a solo show titled "One head, Two bodies" which will consist of several sculptures and as many pots. I'll be at Red Lodge this summer for a three week residency and I'm lucky to be able to take my family along as well. I'm thrilled for the opportunity to rub shoulders with other artists and support such a great program.

Hanging Hare in Portland

2010-01-02T13:51:00.004-07:00

I didn't have the chance to document this piece before it was purchased. It was hanging in the Beet Gallery for my solo show there, and now hangs in a collectors' home. I'm glad I have this image as this was a significant piece for me in terms of size, aesthetic and concept.

Why I make art/sculpture

2009-12-07T20:13:00.003-07:00

The following is an email inquiry from the father of an autistic son who was interested in purchasing this piece. This is why I make art. Your animal sculptures are bound to elicit a lot. They ride a keen edge, just human enough to let you happen upon the emotion, just animal enough to keep it at an observable distance. Right where you want to be, as an art-looker.
Thanks to my son, I've logged some time explicating emotions and their signs. I enjoyed seeing your unexpectedly expressive animals, they were just incongruous enough to catch me off guard and draw me in, without being cartoonish or garish.
Where'd I find them? I like ceramics and was hunting on the internet for something for the house. I used to live in Iowa City (now I'm in Fort Worth, Texas), and saw your stuff on the AKAR site. I liked the rabbits right away. They made me think of a Mexican curio I keep in my house (see pic). When your page mentioned Precolumbian dogs I thought wow, this takes what I've liked about that further. More was just a Google away.
I ended up on the http://plinthgallery.com/site and ordered one or your cannisters from them. I'm afraid the animal figures are, deservedly, a decimal place beyond my price range.
Hope you have a good Holiday event, and I wish you the best in your ongoing work.
Always glad to take a tip of a hat for parenting efforts, but I'll mention the upsides too, that my son (being literal and rule-bound) is one of the sincerest, most unswervingly loyal people you could hope to know and (having a perseverative memory) recalls instantly the last thing you mentioned when he last saw you, in order to ask you about it. He also feels whatever emotions he does perceive very intensely, and so he tries to be incredibly discreet when he brings up a conflict (which you can generally see coming a mile away). May you be so lucky with your own when they hit the teen years. I kept things simple with a 1 parent-1 child dynamic. I can barely imagine the complications of a 2-parent 3-child world.

Jason Hess, Dec 5-6

2009-11-17T19:38:00.003-07:00

Jason, who teaches at NAU will also be here. His work is strong and innovative. I'm looking forward to another successful Holiday Sale with him and to see what he's been up to for the past year.

Steve Schaeffer Dec 5-6 Toquerville Holiday Sale.

2009-11-05T17:19:00.004-07:00

Steve Schaeffer will be here for our Holiday Sale. The next day he leaves for Italy to attend the prestigious Florence Biennial It's an honor to have such high caliber artists exhibiting here in Toquerville. He was here last year and his work was well received. So come early and be sure to leave with some of his beautiful art.

Danny Crump at the Holiday Sale December 5-6

2009-10-20T15:22:00.004-06:00

Young Danny is currently at the Missoula Clay Center http://www.theclaystudioofmissoula.org/ where he's their resident artist for a year. He lived with us for two summers, made work and helped me fire kilns. We're excited to have him here at this year's sale. Our kids consider him their older brother and we like it that way.

Holiday Sale December 5-6

2009-10-16T08:41:00.003-06:00

Here are two more that just came out of Dan Anderson's "Mounds Anagama". This is his work and these two will be at the Toquerville Pottery Holiday Sale. He'll be giving a slide lecture at SUU and a day of demonstrations the 3rd and 4th of December, then down here for the sale.

Toquerville Pottery Holiday Sale is Coming.

2009-10-14T09:24:00.006-06:00

This piece was made By Dan Anderson from Illinois. It and Dan will be here for our Holiday Sale.

This year Dan Anderson, my grad professor from Illinois, Jason Hess from NAU, Steve Schaeffer from Nau and Danny Crump will be here with their great work. We empty out the front two rooms of our house and fill it with great ceramic art. Come see and buy some of the best ceramics in the country here in little ol' Toquerville, December 5-6, 10 am to 5pm

Go to my website and sign up for our newsletter and I'll send you more information about the artsists.http://www.toquervilleclay.com/

Opening at the Plinth

2009-10-09T08:46:00.002-06:00

This is our life and on this road trip with the kids, from Toquerville to Denver to Durango and back, I began to think about what this life is doing to/for our kids. It seems to me that it's a pretty extraordinary life. We take the kids to openings, we have art sales here at the house where they get to meet other great artists and patrons. Lori make gourmet meals almost every night and we make dinner around the table a priority. We introduce them to interesting and somewhat challenging music and they are all taking and engaged with music lessons.

This is our life, and to me it seems normal. But I suspect that it's not. While we don't have tons of money, we still provide our kids with as much experience as possible. As a result, we are starting to notice that the kids are engaged with their world and are eager to explore new things. From Denver we drove to Durango and spent the night with Lorna Meaden and after the visit with her, I was glad that we have relationships with extraordinary people living creative and interesting lives.

I love this picture of Brynn, striking a pose in front of the Plinth Gallery. There's the universe and then there's Brynn, smack in the middle. For our kids the extraordinary is pretty ordinary.

Plinth Gallery

2009-09-28T08:45:00.003-06:00

Show Title, "I Want More and Then Some". October 2-30. Opening Friday, October 2, 6-9. I'll be at the opening, I hope my Denver friends can make it.

These came out of the kiln last night. I had to unload with gloves on so Mitch could take the photo's.

We're loading these and more in the car and driving half the show to Denver. We're looking forward to the trip.http://plinthgallery.com/

Thoughts from a Five Year Old

2009-09-01T17:28:00.004-06:00

So little Ella and I are having lunch together today, left over beans, chicken and rice and she says to me "dad, I want to be buried by you." I didn't know what she meant so I asked her "buried?" "yea, when I die, I want to be buried by you". Talk about bringing my age and this temporal existence into focus unexpectedly. Her innocent and out of the blue statement brought me to tears. After a productive morning in the studio I didn't expect a dose of reality from my five year old. It was so cute and innocent that whatever I said would probably be inadequate. I asked, what if we were buried next to Jake (the dog) beneath the fig tree? She thought that would be nice. Then I said, "the roots of the tree can bind us together".

She then fed me the chicken from her plate because she only liked the beans and rice.

Zion National Park Tunnel Walk

2009-08-29T10:04:00.002-06:00

When I was a kid, we'd drive up here from Palm Springs, California for vacation. At the time, you could stop in the tunnel to look out of the windows. These days, no stopping is allowed and they put curbs in to block the pull outs. For the 100th anniversery of Zion National Park, they closed the tunnel to traffic and allowed 300 people to walk through. I was one of the bus drivers that transported the walkers to the upper end of the tunnel. (the guy in the lower right is the owner of the recorded voice that you hear if you're taking the shuttle to one of the trail heads in the main canyon)

Above is a view from one of the turnout openings.

Exiting the lower end.

Exiting the lower end of the tunnel.

Another view from the turn out.

Carbondale Clay National Juried Exhibit

2009-08-21T13:10:00.004-06:00

This canister was accepted into the Carbondale Clay National. I haven't entered a juried show in years. I wanted to mix it up with my peers. http://www.carbondaleclay.org/

Two Red Hares

2009-08-10T12:14:00.002-06:00

The last time I used this red glaze it bubbled and blistered. I put off glazing these two for a long time as I was dreading a repeat of the last firing. So this time I thinned the glaze a bit and applied one extra coat so that it was thinner overall but more evenly covered. I kept the firing temp the same and at 1am I went to the studio, read the instructions on the glaze bottle and lowered the temp by a cone. I opened the kiln after several hours of anticipation and was pleased the buttery, lush surface that was achieved. If I didn't know better, I'd say the glaze looks like red leather.

The top Hare goes to Eric in Virginia, the bottom one is destined for the Plinth Gallery http://plinthgallery.com/ in Denver for a solo show this October. I'm very hopeful and encouraged. Ceramics can be such a heartbreaking mistress with all the variables that can go wrong during the long process to completion.

Navajo Lake(Great Mountain Biking)

2009-08-07T18:18:00.006-06:00

Leaving my studio for vacation is difficult, but necessary, both for my kids and my mental health. My feeling about leaving for vacation reminds me of when I was a kid and my dad would throw a temper fit before we left for our vacation. I resented him for ruining it before we even left the driveway. Us kids would be in the car while my dad would check and double check the yard and house. We'd be on the road for an hour or two before he mellowed, cheered and got into the trip.

On the way home yesterday, little Ella was wining and complaining and I said, "if you don't stop, I'm going to chip a tooth from gritting my teeth like my dad did when I was kid", I was referencing the time when I sat behind him when we were in the 1970ish four door Toyota Corolla. He reached around to smack me and missed and chipped a tooth. Of course it was my fault, if hadn't been "grabassin'" he wouldn't have been forced to grit his teeth. Lori said "that sounds like a parenting problem to me". We all had a good laugh at the irony and my tooth is still in one piece.

I have a feeling that my daughter Brynn (holding the hare below) is just like me when I was her age, she drives me crazy with her incessant energy and pestering.

I have a solo show looming in October in Denver at the Plinth Gallery. That's about seven weeks away. With work, family and exercise, my studio time is limited. I have enough work for the show, but I also have enough ideas to fill the gallery with new work. The day we left for Navajo Lake, I was at work for 5 days driving the Zion Shuttle, then 4 days in the mountains on vacation, then home again for two more days in Zion and that ads up to 10 days without any productive studio time. This afternoon I spent a few hours glazing two hares, one for my friend in Virginia and one for the Plinth, still not enough time.
When I was in grad school, Dan Anderson(my professor). said to me when preparing for my thesis show that "it doesn't get any easier when you graduate." It's true, deadlines approach, I stress and end up getting the work made. It's just a little more complicated now that I'm juggling everything else too.

Feedback from Friends

2009-07-30T10:04:00.004-06:00

I sure like it when I get feedback on where my work ends up. These tiles reside in Davis, CA. Thank you all for your support and thank you for your friendship. Here's what Veronica has to say....

Dear Russell,

I am not sure if you remember us, but we visited your home studio last May '08, when my mom and I purchased your lovely tiles! I couldn't wait to get home and find the perfect place for them. Unfortunately, I waited an entire year but I designed our front yard landscaping to include the tiles. I have attached a couple of photographs for you to check out. All of our family, friends and neighbors love the tiles and comment on their colors, patterns, and uniqueness. They remind me of Utah and your beautiful home and studio.

Budding Talent

2009-07-28T08:53:00.004-06:00

Here is Eli, 12, practicing his violin. He started several years ago and it was a bumpy start. He complained and cried about going to lessons and practicing, so we let him quit for about 6 months until he got a little older. Today is his last day with Robin Keith, she's only qualified to teach the violin to book 4 of the Suzuki method (she is a cellist). We're onto a new teacher who is a violinist and plays for the local symphony.
It's interesting to listen to him play the movements of "Concerto in A Minor" by Vivaldi and remember when it wasn't long ago that he was struggling with "The Twinkles".

Part of the charm of our house gallery is that returning customers and friends get to see our kids grow in talent and stature. This is not your typical retail experience, but I dare say it's more rewarding. You get a local(back yard) hand made vessel and you know exactly where your hard earned money is going, ie. music lessons for the kids etc.

Canisters

2009-07-22T09:14:00.004-06:00

We unloaded the kiln last Saturday and I finally had time to take pictures yesterday.

I made a series of canisters/jars for this last firing and for the first few I made the typical round flat rim. Then about 2/3rds through the series, I came up with the idea to cut the rim and and simplify the body.

The lid handle is made by throwing a long ribbed tube that I cut off the hump and fold over onto itself. The ribs then distort into an intersting shape.

These three were the most successful out of the series. I'm going to make more to see how I can exploit the more successful aspects of the these pieces.

Not All Bad.

2009-07-13T19:04:00.003-06:00

This vase came from my last soda firing and I am very pleased. I've made a few of these in the past and finally found the right glaze to fit the form. I have always used orange slip and sigillata on the top section with the hope that the kiln will create the dynamic surface that is unique to soda firing, but the bottom section eluded me.

I love this metallic glaze. I've used several metallic glaze recipes in the past but this one seems to work the best for me. No running or blistering.

These vases take awhile to complete. I throw the bottom section separately, then push out from the inside and paddle in from the outside to create the irregular/organic shape. I add the legs and carve away until it looks right. I then throw the upper section and connect it. After it dries a bit I return to delineate the connection. There are four more in the studio that are bisqued, waiting to be fired.

Not all was perfect. All these tumblers will have to be thrown away. The glaze that I used successfully so many times in the past blistered badly. There were a few that worked out, but most of the kiln load will have to go to the pottery graveyard. Sometimes ceramics breaks my heart.

Summer Time Tumblers

2009-07-10T17:49:00.004-06:00

I usually don't make tumblers, but I have started to really enjoy summer beverages, so I decided to make a few. Here I am mixing the glaze, it's an icy blue green color, perfect glaze for an icy, summer time beverage. Notice the wet shirt. I dunk my head in the kids pool and let the breeze from the swamp cooler keep my core cool.

I'm dipping the tumbler in the glaze, bringing the glaze to the rim and not letting it overflow into the interior. The tumbler is already lined with a shiny white glaze.

I'll be unloading the soda kiln full of tumblers tomorrow and posting them on etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6382559 by Sunday. Hopefully it's a good firing, check it out to see.

New Pet

2009-07-09T12:06:00.004-06:00

We have some neighbors that let their rabbits go free because they were tired of taking care of them. They're not too bright and are irresponsible people(all cute Easter bunnies grow up). So of course they found their way to our yard and garden. This one was pretty easy to catch, I just picked him up by the scruff. The other one is a bit more skittish and we caught him when he entered my studio and we were able to scare him into a makeshift trap. Lori made them a hutch and now we have two new pets.
Now that we have them housed and fed, the neighbor girls want to take ownership again. Their parents should have taken responsibility and built them the proper hutch instead of some on the ground, maggot infested cage. The maggots are why they let them go. Lazy!
The girls love them.

Summer Harvest

2009-07-09T11:24:00.002-06:00

Basil from our garden. Thank you Lori for growing it. Tonights pesto. Also, the first tomato of the summer, bigger than my fist. Bagle, cream cheese and a home grown tomato is what I like.

Portland, Oregon Solo Exhibit

2009-06-29T18:23:00.003-06:00

I'm having a solo show at the Beet Gallery in Portland Oregon. Some new work and slightly older work that still has a heart beat. I'm glad to be showing my work in the great city of Portland. Thank you Sandy for inviting me.http://beetgallery.com/exhibits.html

Figs For Sale

2009-06-27T20:07:00.002-06:00

The young fig entrepreneurs setting up for business. They did pretty good today, $15. A German and a Brit among others enjoyed the fresh figs on their way to Zion. Four for a dollar.

St. George Farmer's Market

2009-06-26T17:41:00.003-06:00

I'll be at the St George Farmer's Market tomorrow the 27Th of June selling mugs and jugs and maybe some figs if there are some ripe ones in the morning. I'm hoping to attend several times this summer with new work each time. Come by and see what's new.

Broken Hare

2009-06-26T15:29:00.002-06:00

One of the hazards of working with ceramics. When a box gets smashed in shipment, fired clay will not survive. Set backs like this make me rethink my decision to use ceramics as an art making medium.

Chicken Wrangling

2009-06-22T16:38:00.008-06:00

Wrangling the chickens from my studio and kilns.

Returning the escapee back to its new yard.

Our young chickens are finally doing their job, that is laying eggs consistently and giving Ella the opportunity for some chicken wrangling. I love that she can run around the yard barefooted chasing the chickens.

We like our chickens to roam and scratch and peck the bugs and grubs in the garden, but they spend more time exploring my studio and kilns while making chicken messes where ever they go. I decided my studio should remain a studio and not double as a barn, so we built a small yard for them outside of the original enclosure, under the sun.

1956 Camp Trailer

2009-06-18T09:27:00.002-06:00

We purchased this camp trailer about 5 years ago to house Danny, our first (and last)Toquerville Clay resident artist. This spring we took it in to the mechanic to get it fixed up for the road, bearings repacked and tail lights fixed. We purchased some new rubber and now we're rollin'. Last weekend we camped at Red Cliffs Campground. The kids loved climbing on the rocks while the old man enjoyed a G and T with the bride.

The end of the month, you'll find us at Navajo Lake where supposedly exists the best mountain bike single track in the country. We shall see.

Soda Kiln Firing

2009-06-17T16:22:00.006-06:00

Here is some of the process of loading and firing the soda kiln. The kiln that I fire the most is small, so that I can turn over the work fast and respond to glaze and firing applications. This was a good firing for the most part. Some glazes didn't do what I expected, but maybe if I wait awhile, I'll come around.
The picture of me stacking the door shows the scale of this particular kiln. I have a larger soda that takes two days to glaze and load, plus a reduction kiln.
The last picture is of me squirting in the baking soda that is dissolved in water. The soda solution interacts with the silica in the clay and turns it to glass. The soda also helps create flashing and flame patterns.

Teaching Again

2009-06-14T18:13:00.013-06:00

After grad. school and before we moved here, we lived in Denver. I taught adjunct ceramics at three different colleges there. When we moved here I gave up my teaching aspirations, and for the last 8 years, I've been a studio artist and part time bus driver to varying degrees of financial success.

Then 8 months ago the economy crashed and I panicked.

I called Susan Harris that teaches at Southern Utah University in Cedar City to see if there were any teaching opportunities and, if there were, I'd like to teach 3D Design. There were two classes available and I took them both. My initial interest in teaching again was financial, but it didn't take long for me to remember how intellectually stimulating academics is.

These wire projects were rendered by my 3D Design students from last semester. I found them to be very intriguing and amusing.

Mold Made Hare

2009-06-09T17:14:00.005-06:00

Here is the mold made hare sculpture. It took me about 10-15 hours to finish instead of 50-60. The mold that I produced from the broken piece wasn't perfect, there were undercuts which distorted the finished product. When I pulled the body sections from the mold, they required only minor repairs due to the imperfections in the mold. It's like putting together a puzzle. Also, I didn't make a mold of the ears, so they have to be created from a slab of clay.

I'm now drying this sculpture on a kiln shelf and when it's dry, I'll place the sculpture and the shelf in the kiln together.

I have two other hares almost completed. I'll make molds of these two sculptures also. Eventually, I'll have several molds and I'm hoping the parts will be interchangable.

Since the pieces are finished in less time, I'll be able to take some risks with the glazing and explore some new surfaces. I see some aesthetic doors opening.

Jammed Up

2009-06-06T09:09:00.000-06:00

This bisque kiln has been sitting like this for four days now. My plan was to be in the middle of a glaze/soda fire today and have the tiles finished by now. The "broken hare" and the subsequent mold making adventure set me back a few days. Also, the show at the Beet Gallery in Portland Oregon is stressing me out a bit as I want the broken hare to be included in the show. I wish I could do more than one thing at a time. I have too many interests and sticks in the fire.

Broken Hare and a New Mold

2009-06-04T15:42:00.003-06:00

After working on this piece for 50 or so hours, I loaded it in the kiln and broke the two front legs off. This was an important piece, I felt as though I made some technical, conceptual and aesthetic progress, so to break the piece before it was fired was truly heart breaking. After a few days mourning the loss, I decided to make a mold of the broken hare.

I cut it into pieces, then poured plaster around the parts. It took me two days to make the molds since my skills are limited. (Why didn't I pay closer attention during that mold making workshop?) Anyway, after the molds dried in the desert sun, I pressed clay into the negative created by the cut up pieces. I now have a new piece put together. It's not finished, it needs to be cleaned up, but I'm only 3 hours into it which previously would have taken me 15-20 hours had I started from a fresh bag of clay. I'm looking forward to making some molds of more pieces as I finish them. Maybe I can make 4-6 a month instead of one. I'll post pics of the piece in progress later.

Zion National Park Shuttle

2009-05-31T18:33:00.007-06:00

When we first moved here from Denver, I got a job baking bread, driving school bus and finally Lori read a job announcment in the paper for shuttle drivers for Zion National Park. We filled out the ap. and sent it in. I interviewed and got the job. Eight years ago, I started as a full time driver and three season's ago I went part time. This summer, I drive two days a week as my focus is the ceramics studio. This has been a great job and the folks I work with and for are easy to get along with. The job is seasonal and part time, so I get plenty of time in the studio and make a few dollars to help pay the bills. Plus, I get to look at the beautiful landscape all day and hang out with passengers that are on vacation.

I met these two ladies several years ago while driving the shuttle and they return each year from Florida. I just happened to see them today waiting to catch the shuttle from the Lodge to the Temple of Siniwava. It's fun to meet and see folks that return each year.

Coming Soon, Opal Moon Cafe

2009-05-28T19:07:00.002-06:00

This is a picture of the soon to be "Opal Moon Cafe", taken from our front yard. Soon, the first of July, you'll be able to come to Toquerville and get a hot beverage or a savory meal and walk across the street and see and buy the latest pottery, tile and sculpture made by me, here in little ol' Toquerville.

Also, Noel Logan has recently retired and is now a full time sculptor and jeweler. He'll be here too. So you can visit him and see and buy his latest work.

We're thrilled to no longer be the only thing in town. Thank you Sebastian for working so hard to get the "Opal Moon Cafe" up and running. I can't wait to walk across the street for my morning cup.

Upcoming Mother's Day Sale

2009-04-27T08:37:00.010-06:00

We are filling our shelves with handmade pottery and jewelry in anticipation of our Mother's Day Sale on Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10, 2009 from 11-4 both days. The sale will take place in Toquerville at our gallery and studio. There is a map on the right hand side of your screen for directions.

This year we have the work of myself, Danny Crump and Noel Logan. Danny Crump was our first artist in residence in Toquerville. He worked and lived in our 1950's camp trailer for two summers and sold his work out of our gallery. He has since gone on to undergraduate school in Logan, Utah at Utah State University where he just recently graduated with his B.F.A. He will have functional, wood fired pots.

Noel Logan is a sculptor who lives in Toquerville and owns Toquerville Bronze Works. He has a foundry in his backyard and has recently retired from archaeology to spend full time on his sculpture and jewelry. He sculpts his own wax molds and pours his own bronze and silver to make wonderful pieces of jewelry and unique sculpture.

I just returned from Phoenix where I participated in two sculptural shows and gave two presentations about my work. I have been busy trying to change gears and make functional pottery in my studio since I returned two weeks ago. I will have large jars and a new kiln load of functional ware on my shelves for the sale.

Lori will have homemade goodies to share throughout the two day sale so consider coming to Toquerville for the Mother's Day weekend and taking part in our handmade art sale. Local, original art...it doesn't get much better than that.

Don Reitz and Hide and Seek

2009-04-25T20:02:00.004-06:00

Last year, at the Toquerville Clay Annual Holiday Sale, after all the artists arrived, our three kids were hyped up on all the activity and were playing hide and seek. I heard Brynn's muffled giggle and couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I followed the laughter to a Don Reitz pot that I own(because of a fire brick trade we made years ago). She climbed in and stayed there till I lifted the lid. This is a valuable piece of pottery, so I hesitate to allow it to be a hiding spot, but it is darn cute and I like the idea of a Don Reitz pot being reinvented for another use.

Potters as Sculptors as Potters

2009-04-14T08:51:00.004-06:00

This sculpture and pitcher were in the "Potters as Sculptors as Potters" show at NCECA. It's always an honor when my work is exhibited along side artists that I've admired for so long. I was also on a panel of the same name with 4 other artists; Donna Polseno, Doug Casebeer and Liz Quackenbush along with Jim Ibur as the moderator.

We each had 10 minutes to show slides of our work and tell about ourselves. I had a speech ready to go before we arrived on stage. Then the opening line, "I have two mistress' " entered my thoughts and so 5 minutes before I stood at the lecturn, I changed my presentation entirely. I don't remember what I said, but I feel pretty good about it. It was flattering and an honor to be on a panel with such distinguished artists.

Lorna Meaden and the economy

2009-03-09T06:39:00.003-06:00

I was talking to Lorna the other day and I mentioned something like, "How dare we try to be potters in this recession, who do we think we are?" She said something that caught me off guard, "I think it's great, we've learned how to be resourceful out of necessity and now everyone else gets to learn how to live like us, within their means".

This is a picture of her work in my kiln from a year and a half ago when she came to our Holiday Sale. It was a pretty good firing.

Look her up, she makes fine dishes.

In the Works

2009-02-10T19:42:00.002-07:00

Three sculptures in various stages of completion. I almost gave up on the left one, too complicated and time consuming. The middle one is dry and ready to bisque then glaze. The one on the right is still giving me fits. I'll attach the arms after I figure out some technical and aesthetic issues with the lower half.

Hand Made Tile

2009-02-02T07:31:00.003-07:00

When we moved into this house 8 years ago, the updates were cheaply done. Originally, there were no bathrooms in this house so we're grateful for the indoor plumbing, but it could have been done better. Currently our shower is down stairs in what was once the pantry. The previous owner chose the cheapest solution and after 8 years, it has run its course. So we're removing the shower downstairs all together and replacing it with a sink and putting in a shower upstairs where it should have been from the beginning.

I made these tiles with the help of my bride and kids. It takes a lot longer than I expected and with sculpture exhibit dead lines looming, I'm finding it difficult to focus on finishing the job. We have all the tiles made, I just need to glaze and fire them. When the shower is finished, the tiles will be placed where the backer board is installed. I like the wiggly, uneven quality of the hand made.

We have a wonderful installer who is doing our remodel and happens to be our neighbor and friend as well. Nate Torgerson is the guy you want if you need anything done to your home. He has great ideas, works quickly and efficiently and is great to have around.

Hare-arss

2009-01-18T19:38:00.002-07:00

Two pics of a piece I've been working on. If it survives the firing etc, it will be at a show in Phoeniz, AZ for this year's NCECA. My daughter Brynn(8) giggles at this sculpture everytime she comes into the studio.

Two Pitchers/Jugs

2008-12-23T09:35:00.002-07:00

These two were set aside from the last soda firing. I'm sending them to Red Lodge Clay Center in Montana today. www.redlodgeclaycenter.com Lots of great work up there. Check out their website.

Thank you to all

2008-12-15T09:15:00.004-07:00

The Holiday Sale was a success. I had low expectations in terms of sales with the economy such as it is, so 15% less than last year was OK by me. All the artists left fed, hydrated and with a little extra cash. Thank you to the artists for lending us their reputations and professionalism and everyone that has supported the sale over the years, especially now with discretionary income limited.

Normally, I've been able to relax for a few weeks after the sale, but I have shows lined up until next fall. This week, I need to ship a show to Red Lodge Clay Center in Montana http://www.redlodgeclaycenter.com/, then next month, two pieces (one sculpture one vessel) to a group show at Ball State in Indiana, then two group shows at NCECA in Tempe. Then on to solo shows in Portland, Oregon and Denver, Colorado.

All the work is already made in my head and waiting to be turned into reality.

The Daily Spectrum, Life Section

2008-12-05T08:29:00.004-07:00

Great article about the Holiday Sale. It came out this morning. I'm always a little nervous when articles are written about me, but I'm in good hands with Mr. Passey. http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20081205/LIFESTYLE/812050307/1024/CUSTOMERSERVICE02

Our Holiday Sale December 6-7 10am-5pm Saturday and Sunday

2008-12-02T09:17:00.003-07:00

I've been receiving several compliments on my last email newsletter. If you're not on the list, it had pictures of the artists, their work and their artist statement. It occurred to me that if I look good, it's because of the professionalism and talent of the artists that are represented in the letter and at our sale. Scroll down to see a few images of their ceramic art and come to the sale to see and touch in person.
If you'd like to be on the list, email me at http://www.toquervilleclay@gmail.com/ I send four a year.

Joe Singewald

2008-11-27T09:44:00.004-07:00

Joe is the only artist returning this year. Last year we invited him based on Danny Crump's (former resident artist here at Toquerville Pottery) recommendation and we're glad we did. He's great to have around and his work is just as fine as he is. We ended up with one of his woodfired serving plates and it's the one we reach for every time we BBQ. He just received his MFA from Utah State and is currently teaching at Southern Utah University in Cedar City.
Toquerville Pottery Holiday Sale, December 6-7 10am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday

Steve Schaeffer

2008-11-26T08:53:00.002-07:00

I was first introduced to Steve through his sculptural work at a gallery in Flagstaff. A year later we got to know each other at the Louisville, Kentucky NCECA. There I was introduced to his utilitarian ware at a different gallery. When he agreed to come and share his sophisticated and beautiful pottery I was thrilled. His work is also wood fired and as you can see from the pictures, the surfaces range from subtle ash and flame patterning to slightly crusty. I'm looking forward to including his work in my collection.

Brad Schwieger

2008-11-25T04:29:00.004-07:00

I got an email from Brad today telling me that he just shipped his work. Eight boxes from Ohio. I'm thrilled and flattered that Brad is coming to join us for this event that has been growing each year. His work is informed by both historical and contemporary pottery and is rooted to utility, but it can also function as a sculptural or decorative object. I'm looking forward to getting to know Brad over the weekend and acquire his art.

Anna from Germany

2008-11-22T09:25:00.001-07:00

Hi Russell,

I just wanted to take the time to let you know how much I enjoy the pottery I bought from you.
Bringing home something that was made by a person I actually met in the country I visited has always been the way for me to select a “souvenir”. (O.k., I do buy a t-shirt every now and then). I use the plate, mug and bowl daily. It’s beautiful work! I selfishly decided to keep 3 out of the 4 bicycle tiles I bought. I had initially intended to give them away for Christmas – I guess I have to think of something else to give to my family now. Hanging them up next to each other on the wall is very decorative.
Unfortunately, I can’t come over for your Christmas sale to get new ones but I’ll be back the next time I come over to see Delena and Jon.
Keep doing what you love to do and good luck with the Christmas sale.
Tell your wife and the kids Hi.
All the best
Anna
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17503119

Jason Hess

2008-11-20T16:58:00.003-07:00

I'm glad to have Jason Hess coming to the Toquerville Clay Holiday Sale. He teaches at Northern Arizona University and is coming from Flagstaff, Arizona. Most of his work is wood fired or wood/soda fired. The surfaces he gets range from juicy and luscious to dry and crackly. He exploits the wood kiln and uses it as a tool to achieve beautiful and varied surfaces. I'm excited to acquire something of his to add to my pottery collection.

Pottery

2008-11-13T09:00:00.005-07:00

Here's anothe example of what will be available at our Holiday Pottery Sale. I'm really energized right now. I'm waking up in the middle of the night with new glazing ideas. I'm taking some creative risks so that I'm anxious for each kiln opening. The honeymoon is on again. This mug can be yours by going to http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17371083

Holiday Sale 2008 , December 6-7

2008-11-12T09:42:00.004-07:00

Here's a vase that's been waiting to be glazed for about 6 months. I couldn't decide what to do until the metalic glaze came along. I made the glaze for my future handmade bathroom tiles(I will post the bathroom images later). I am very pleased with the outcome and the slip on the upper portion turned a really nice red/orange. Buy it?http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17370290

Holiday Sale Pottery

2008-11-11T10:59:00.005-07:00

Another plate for the Holiday Sale. My efforts in the studio ebb and flow. I am now in the flow of things and am really invigorated by the process and waking up in the middle of the night with new ideas and designs. For your purchasing pleasure, go to http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17369863

6th Annual Pottery Holiday Sale

2008-11-10T19:32:00.003-07:00

This is an example of what will be on hand at our Holiday Sale, Dec 6-7, 10am-5pm. I made this plate last week, it's inspired by my tiles. This is an example of one type of work influencing the other.
Other artists that will be here are Brad Schwieger from Ohio (OU), Jason Hess from Arizona (NAU), Steve Shaeffer fromArizona (NAU), Joe Singewald, Utah. Plus me. I'm a little worried about this sale, in this economy. I hope they can at least pay their travel expenses. Thank you in advance for coming and spending your money on thoughtful and meaningful gifts for yourself and your loved ones. I'll post more images in the next few days.
Go Obama!

A friendly note

2008-09-24T21:38:00.002-06:00

I love when I get these kinds of emails.

Hi Russell, We were delighted to meet you, see your studio (and jack rabbits) watch your work evolve and acquire another one of your tiles in mid-Aug. Thought you might enjoy seeing where those tiles now reside in Flaggstaff.
Cheers, and thanks again for letting us invade your home.
Maria

Rabbit

2008-09-05T08:36:00.006-06:00

Here's what I'm working on now. I have a show coming up in Springdale, Utah which will consisit of all sculptural work. I'll have four new pieces including the one that's shown here, plus some old work that's been shown here and there around the country. Next year I have two one person shows in Portland, Denver, and two group shows in Phoenix, AZ as part of NCECA. Plus, our Holiday Sale is around the corner and I need to get my shelves full of pottery. I'm having a good time making sculpture. I lose sleep thinking up new ideas.

Go to my website www.toquervilleclay.com and click on "Upcoming Events" for details on upcoming shows.

New Pottery

2008-07-08T14:34:00.004-06:00

Teapot #1 $195 plus shipping. Large Serving Bowl $75 plus shipping
MUG $25 plus shipping.
SOLD, thanks Pete, Durango CO Teapot #2 $195 plus shipping.
Large Serving Bowl $75 plus shipping
When emailing me with your choice, indicate blog post title and pot number. http://www.toquervilleclay.com/

5 Mugs

2008-07-08T14:24:00.006-06:00

MUG #1 $25 plus shipping. MUG #2 $25 plus shipping.
SOLD thanks Pete in Durango, CO MUG #3 $25 plus shipping. MUG #4 $25 plus shipping.
MUG #5 $25 plus shipping.

When emailing me with your choice, indicate blog title and mug number. http://www.toquervilleclay@gmail.com/

motives

2008-07-02T14:41:00.007-06:00

A fellow just left our gallery and wants to sell me his equipment. He sandblasts kitchy kokepeli and other images from Southwest petroglyphs into stone tiles and I guess he has been successful until recently. He mentioned that he used to "bid against me" for some of the St. George Parade of Homes and that I used to frustrate his ambitions. It was kind of amusing because I don't really "bid". I just make objects that I enjoy making and if someone likes it, then they buy it. He discribed for me how they displayed my tiles since I didn't attend the home show.

Anyway, he's getting out of "the business" because he's not making any money. I have complete sympathy, our sales are down too, but I'm not getting out of art making. My studio practice is evolving in response to the down turn, in fact, I'm making objects that are more time consuming, more expensive and less marketable, but this isn't something I do just for money. When the times are good, everyone is an "artist", but when they're tough, the fair weather "artists" find something else to do. I told him he has to make what he makes for the right reasons, not just for money.

So this makes me wonder, why would anyone want to spend money and live with an object made by a guy that is only pandering to the market place? Instead, wouldn't it be more enriching to own work made by someone that makes their art because they have something to say, something to contribute to the overall conversation and because they just like making art?

Hand Made Teapots

2008-06-17T09:36:00.005-06:00

1. Teapot, $195 plus shipping. This teapot was fired twice. The green glaze has a tendency to turn an ugly, bubbly matte pink, which is how it looked the first time it came out of the kiln. Firing it twice is a bit of a risk because the glaze can be blasted too much with the soda and get washed out. The second firing worked great this time. This glaze tuned the beautiful green that I hope for every time I use it. The subtle dots are where I applied wax resist.

2. Teapot, $195 plus shipping. I know most people use my teapots as decoration, but they are made to be used. There's a built in strainer on the inside and they pour beautifully.

Teapot Update

2008-05-15T09:33:00.002-06:00

The teapots were fired successfully but, before I had a chance to photograph them, they were purchased. I have more in the works and plan to glaze similarly. I'll be sure to get them on the blog.

Three Teapots

2008-04-24T18:20:00.004-06:00

Here are the three teapots from the previous entry that I'm getting ready to glaze. They have been bisqued and the green color is wax resist, the rust/reddish color is a terra sigillata slip. Sigillata is a clay that is reduced down to its smallest particle size, it's really smooth and once fired, makes for a nice rust colored glaze. Next, I'll dip the teapot in glaze and my hope is that the glaze will flow over the wax resist, leaving just a subtle hint of the dot since the glaze will be thinner in those spots. I have never made dots like this. Usually I make stripes to break up the swath of glaze color, but while waxing today the dot idea came to mind. I'm not the first, but it's new to me. We'll see if it works.

Three New Teapots

2008-04-15T08:28:00.002-06:00

Here are three new teapots. They still need to be bisqued fired and glaze fired, so stay tuned. The last teapots I made were similar but with these, I'm no longer flaring the end of the spout. Also, I'm seeing how far I can push the fat portion of the spout, the part just before the opening. The one on the right is furthest along. Also, I like spouts that are smallish relative to the pot. My friend Rick and I had a long discussion about teapot spouts and we both agreed. The spout does have to rise above the lid flange.

I'm still working on two more, similar but with different proportions.

Opening Night in Pittsburgh, PA

2008-04-14T15:44:00.006-06:00

Opening night for the "Greatest Show on Earth", a themed show in Pittsburgh, PA last month at NCECA. The show was curated by Lorna Meaden and Ilena Finocchi. The opening was fun with good conversation and many libations. I love going to NCECA and spending time with new and old friends. After all the fun, I'm always a little deflated when I return home to my quiet studio. I made this sculpture specifically for this show and am always flattered to be included in shows like this.

Can You Make Money At This?

2008-03-30T16:22:00.006-06:00

Today, a gentleman stopped by to mostly talk about himself. One thing that he asked that has been asked many times before, and it always puzzles me, "Can you make money at this?". The answer is "no". That said, we do make "sufficient for our needs", but our motivation isn't money. We do need to make it financially, but not at the expense of my soul. I may be naive, but if you're going into the arts for money, then you're in the wrong "industry". Whenever an artist derives their self esteem from how much money they make, I think they need to dig a little deeper and find meaning in making work that comes deep from within their soul.

A Letter in the Mail

2008-03-26T15:21:00.005-06:00

Not long ago, we received a letter from the local den-mother scolding us for not making cub scouts a priority. If fact, we've decided to not encourage Eli to attend for a number of reasons.

It was a lengthy letter but one sentence that stood out was "we should at least be willing to sacrifice an hour a week for our children". Implied is that since we don't participate in what is perceived as the proper and legitimate "family" activity that we must not posess "family values". While we don't attend church or send our kids to scouts it doesn't mean that we don't do anything for our children or that we have no structure. We just have our own set of priorities. For example, in our home, music is important. What that means is that we spend about $180 a month on lessons plus the drive time 20 miles away and waiting for the lesson. There is practice time that we're around for, plus all the group music events and more. I'm not saying that our priorities are better than church goers or sports families, everyone has their thing. But we do spend time and make sacrifices for Eli, Brynn and Ella, so when a fundamentalist of any stripe tries to claim their family values are superior to mine, it gives me pause. An hour, how about ones life?

Clarification

2008-03-24T12:50:00.003-06:00

Even though we are paying extra for wind energy, I recently found out that as of now, we're not necessarily using the wind. Our money goes towards the development of clean, renewable power. All energy created by the wind is going into the grid so we could be using the wind and/or coal. I wish we could get just the renewable source, but for now, we're still putting our money where our philosphy is.