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coiling (was: magdelene odundo workshop)

updated wed 30 apr 97

 

Evan Dresel on fri 18 apr 97

At 07:52 AM 4-16-97 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Clayarters:
>Last Thursday afternoon 4/10, Winnie Owens-Hart, Howard University
>art professor and clay person hosted a workshop given by the
>internationally known ceramic artist Magdelene Odundo who is based in
>England, born in Africa and greatly influenced by African ceramic
>tradition and images of the people. We only had 4 hours of Ms.
>Odundo's time that afternoon and she focused on her coiling technique.

etc.

>The American experience of clay is basically Western European and
>filtered through England and Japan. We don't pay much attention to the
>enormous ceramic tradition in Africa that is mainly a handcoiling tradition.
>The ceramic traditions of Africa can be an enormous source of
>inspiration to American potters--both black and white.

etc.

>Sandy Dwiggins
>sandra@icicsun.nci.nih.gov
>

This brings up something I have been wondering about which is why I put a
new subject line on the thread. (Re: coiling? Recoiling?, whatever) It
seems to me that everyone learns some coiling techniques in school but I
can't think of much work, outside of "traditional" Hopi etc. work and
Magdelene's work which is a magnificent extention of the African tradition
(That was her work in a CM article a couple of years back, correct). So who
coils pots these days?

Now some of my bias is that many coil pots, particularly where you can see
the coils, end up looking like a student project -- kind of like the
technique is more interesting than the product. I have seen some nice
basketwork woven coils (and some not so nice IMO).

I happen to like coiling. Or at least I do until I'm far into some slow
piece and then I tend to ask myself why I'm bothering. I just pulled two
terra cotta planters out of the kiln. They are more or less triangular with
rounded sides so not highly amenable to throwing. I use a rough texture on
the outside left from smoothing the coils together with my fingers so you
can't really see the coils although there is a hint of the horizontal
undulations left from the coils. Ok, I could buy an imported planter for
less than the clay costs me, but that isn't the point, right? In some ways
it's like throwing -- the form can get away from you as you expand it
upwards. It just happens in slow motion.

Is coiling really a practical technique if you're trying to make a living
from it for anything but very sculptural pieces? Oh yea, Mary Rogers coils
too, right? Anyone else? Or am I a bit of an anachronism? Just wondering.

-- Evan in W. Richland WA USA where the irrigation canal is full pleasing my
water dog to no end.

pedresel@revolution.3-cities.com

Elca Branman on sun 20 apr 97

Using an extruder to make the coils saves enormous amounts of time and
energy...however there really is a limit to the numberof times my
shoulder joint will tolerate as I rib the coils..that to me is the true
problem with coilimng for production.
Elca
Branman Potters elcab1@juno.com
in Stone Ridge ,N.Y.
in the Hudson Valley

Carol Jackaway on sun 20 apr 97

Coil person here..
Check out Ceramic Monthly,Dec issuse, up front section....Carol
Jackaway.
I coil build my pots, smooth the surfaces, then paint under sea scenes..I
coil because it is my chosen process. I throw also but only for myself. When
it comes to my production vessels, I coil first then press mold.
This method of working is not out-dated, or only for native american
potters. Some potters even add coils to their thrown pieces. It is just
another way of working. If you apply yourself you can pick up speed and
produce beautiful work.

CoilLady
(Carol)
Still waiting for Spring here

Sandra Dwiggins on sun 20 apr 97

Coiling speed: I clocked Magdene at about 1 large bowl form every 10
mins. -- not including trimming time. That includes smoothing the outside
and shaping the form. She works very fast, and has some handbuilding
variations of wheelthrowing techniques to speed up the process. I
don't know what the average time per thrown bowl minus trimming time
is....for the average functional potter---you'd have to ask Jonathan or
someone else who has actually done the calculations....

Sandy
sandra@icicsun.nci.nih.gov