Wendy Hampton on mon 19 jul 99
Ian Currie will be presenting a glaze development workshop at my studio in
Poulsbo Wa. (15 miles and 1 ferry ride northwest of Seattle). It will be
held August 28 and 29th. The following is a description of the class and a
bio of Ian. We still have room and I'm sure it will be a great workshop.
Wendy
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
The systematic method developed by Ian Currie for studying glazes has
proven a powerful tool for students of ceramics. The method is outlined in
his book "Stoneware Glazes: A Systematic Approach". His most recent
publication is a paper in which he shows how this approach can be used for
original research into glazes over a wide range of firing temperatures
without a knowledge of Seger Formula. (See in Ceramics Technical No. 4: "A
Systematic Recipe Approach to Studying Glazes.").
The workshop will involve taking participants through the Systematic Recipe
Method as outlined in the Ceramics Technical article. Being a recipe
method, it is accessible to all regardless of their understanding of glaze
chemistry. At the end of the first day students will have possibly 5 sets
of glazes ( about 175 individual glazes) ready for firing, and will
understand the method. Where the workshop extends to a second day, the
glazes will be fired overnight and participants will be able to see and
assess the results and explore possibilities with group discussions. On
the second day there are a number of other possible activities including
lectures on glaze theory, slide lectures on Japanese pottery including wood
firing and pottery in general, and more time to work one to one with
students. There may also be time for some more practical work, extending
on the results from the first day.
One of the problems of many other approaches to glaze research is a failure
to emphasise the vital importance of alumina and silica variations in
pinning down specific effects and discovering exciting new glazes.
Systematic variation of alumina and silica, along with the fluxes, is
central to this method, and is largely responsible for its success. The
method is organized so that one is able to separate out the variables and
therefore highlight cause and effect. It gives precise control and
understanding of things like color response, maturity, crazing, glaze
surface phenomena such as mattness, shininess and orange-peel surface, as
well as opalescence, opacity, colour-break phenomena etc.
Another feature of the workshop is the use of "mass production" techniques
to make and apply glazes quickly, and also cooperative division of labor
sharing out the work between groups and sharing the results. A lot will be
achieved in a day.
BIOGRAPHY
Ian Currie lives and works in Queensland, Australia, on a community at
Maryvale about an hour and a half's drive from Brisbane. He has been
studying and working with clay and glazes for over 30 years.
In 1971-2 he spent over a year in Japan studying many aspects of Japanese
ceramics, including their approach to glazes. Upon his return to
Australia, he made a living producing functional handmade stoneware and
porcelain.
His interest in glazes eventually led to tutoring in the subject Australia
wide. In 1980 he founded a correspondence course in Stoneware Glazes for
the Australian Flying Arts School ( now Flying Arts Inc.) and tutored this
course for several years. He was also a flying pottery tutor with AFAS
during this period.
He is best known for the method he has developed over the years for
studying glazes - a very efficient systematic technique that quickly
reveals glaze principles while discovering beautiful glazes, and outlined
in his book which has become a standard reference. His latest publication
in Ceramics Technical No.4 extends the approach to cover a full range of
firing temperatures and makes the method more accessible to potters with an
aversion to chemistry and calculations.
Recently a study group was formed on the Internet to use the method for
research and to share results.
He has been invited to speak on the "History of Glazes" panel at the Fort
Worth NCECA conference in 1998.
These days he spends most of his working life making decorative tiles,
still does regular teaching, makes pots for pleasure only, and enjoys
singing a-cappella.
Wendy Hampton on wed 18 aug 99
Ian Currie will be presenting a glaze development workshop at my studio in
Poulsbo, WA. (15 miles and 1 ferry ride northwest of Seattle). It will be
held August 28 and 29th. The following is a description of the class and a
bio of Ian. We still have room and I'm sure it will be a great workshop.
Wendy
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
The systematic method developed by Ian Currie for studying glazes has
proven a powerful tool for students of ceramics. The method is outlined in
his book "Stoneware Glazes: A Systematic Approach". His most recent
publication is a paper in which he shows how this approach can be used for
original research into glazes over a wide range of firing temperatures
without a knowledge of Seger Formula. (See in Ceramics Technical No. 4: "A
Systematic Recipe Approach to Studying Glazes.").
The workshop will involve taking participants through the Systematic Recipe
Method as outlined in the Ceramics Technical article. Being a recipe
method, it is accessible to all regardless of their understanding of glaze
chemistry. At the end of the first day students will have possibly 5 sets
of glazes (about 175 individual glazes) ready for firing, and will
understand the method. Where the workshop extends to a second day, the
glazes will be fired overnight and participants will be able to see and
assess the results and explore possibilities with group discussions. On
the second day there are a number of other possible activities including
lectures on glaze theory, slide lectures on Japanese pottery including wood
firing and pottery in general, and more time to work one to one with
students. There may also be time for some more practical work, extending
on the results from the first day.
One of the problems of many other approaches to glaze research is a failure
to emphasize the vital importance of alumina and silica variations in
pinning down specific effects and discovering exciting new glazes.
Systematic variation of alumina and silica, along with the fluxes, is
central to this method, and is largely responsible for its success. The
method is organized so that one is able to separate out the variables and
therefore highlight cause and effect. It gives precise control and
understanding of things like color response, maturity, crazing, glaze
surface phenomena such as mattness, shininess and orange-peel surface, as
well as opalescence, opacity, colour-break phenomena etc.
Another feature of the workshop is the use of "mass production" techniques
to make and apply glazes quickly, and also cooperative division of labor
sharing out the work between groups and sharing the results. A lot will be
achieved in a day.
BIOGRAPHY
Ian Currie lives and works in Queensland, Australia, on a community at
Maryvale about an hour and a half's drive from Brisbane. He has been
studying and working with clay and glazes for over 30 years.
In 1971-2 he spent over a year in Japan studying many aspects of Japanese
ceramics, including their approach to glazes. Upon his return to
Australia, he made a living producing functional handmade stoneware and
porcelain.
His interest in glazes eventually led to tutoring in the subject Australia
wide. In 1980 he founded a correspondence course in Stoneware Glazes for
the Australian Flying Arts School (now Flying Arts Inc.) and tutored this
course for several years. He was also a flying pottery tutor with AFAS
during this period.
He is best known for the method he has developed over the years for
studying glazes -- a very efficient systematic technique that quickly
reveals glaze principles while discovering beautiful glazes, and outlined
in his book which has become a standard reference. His latest publication
in Ceramics Technical No. 4 extends the approach to cover a full range of
firing temperatures and makes the method more accessible to potters with an
aversion to chemistry and calculations.
Recently a study group was formed on the Internet to use the method for
research and to share results.
He has been invited to speak on the "History of Glazes" panel at the Fort
Worth NCECA conference in 1998.
These days he spends most of his working life making decorative tiles,
still does regular teaching, makes pots for pleasure only, and enjoys
singing a-cappella.
George Brown on thu 19 aug 99
Ian Currie will also be doing this same workshop in Alexandria VA at Creative
Clay Studios on the weekend of Sept 10, 11, and 12, 1999. There is still
room for sign-up and registration.
If you are interested in signing up for this workshop in Alexandria call
Maureen or George at 703-750-9480 or send us an e-mail at Pridgegb@AOL.com.
>From all reports Ian gives a good workshop.
Geo
Cheryl L Litman on wed 25 aug 99
There are still spaces in the Ian Currie workshop being held in Denville,
NJ on September 18 &19. There are also a few people who have spare rooms
that are willing to take in a clayarter who needs a room for the evening
of the 18th.
Cheryl Litman
Somerset, NJ
email: cheryllitman@juno.com
Stephen Lathrop on tue 7 sep 99
Cheryl,
If you still have room in Ian Curies work shop, I would be interested in taking
it. I have his book and read how he sets up a matrix and how to use the matrix
to gain an understanding of our glazes. It would be nice to experience the
matrix system for glaze making and learn it directly from the pro. Also nice to
enjoy his vast knowledge of glazes and materials. I am really getting into Glaze
chemistry on my PC and his work shop would make an excellent complement to that
knowledge. What is the cost for the work shop??? I am another hours drive from
the Madison/Morristown area to my farm in PA so that is a little far to commute
both days. But, I have family in Madison NJ so I could stay there. Denville is
only 30-40 minutes drive from there. I have been to Denville a few times but,
only on RT 46 shopping. Where are you holding his workshop session??? Let me
know about space availability and cost in the work shop either email or phone.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
The Pirates Pottery in PA
Steve
(610) 346-7641.
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