Toni Smith on sat 15 jun 02
After checking out the Potters Path websight again to see the new tiles (they
look wonderful) I thought it would be a great project for summer clay classes
to make a set of tiles and send to Wales so that Janet can incorporate them
into the Path. If you haven't already done so, check out the website at
www.the-chapel-of-art.freeserve.co.uk/30pathmakers.html
Is anyone in the States doing a project like that? Our art center is
considering doing a mosaic on the front of the building and I am hoping they
will include some whole tiles into the design as well. Toni Smith in Ohio
L. P. Skeen on sat 15 jun 02
This is an excellent idea for a Guild project.........
----- Original Message -----
From: "Toni Smith"
To:
Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 8:25 AM
Subject: Tiles to Janet, summer project?
> After checking out the Potters Path websight again to see the new tiles
(they
> look wonderful) I thought it would be a great project for summer clay
classes
> to make a set of tiles and send to Wales so that Janet can incorporate
them
> into the Path. If you haven't already done so, check out the website at
> www.the-chapel-of-art.freeserve.co.uk/30pathmakers.html
> Is anyone in the States doing a project like that? Our art center is
> considering doing a mosaic on the front of the building and I am hoping
they
> will include some whole tiles into the design as well. Toni Smith in Ohio
>
>
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Janet Kaiser on sun 16 jun 02
Toni, Lisa and Company
If an art centre is doing a "mosaic" they should be able to say
exactly what they are using and the effect they want to achieve. Old
ceramics broken up is a great way of recycling and to be encouraged
(especially if it means people having to buy new pots from local
potters! :-) Raiding potters' shard heaps..? except those who throw
their rejects over cliffs. Even using bought tiles or crocks and then
breaking them up? Ask what they plan to do precisely, before you start
making a contribution. If they are planning on incorporating whole
tiles, they probably would have some sort of theme to hold the whole
thing together, otherwise it could look a mess.
And YES! The Potters' Path still needs another 3,000 to 4,000 tiles to
be completed, so all contributions are welcome. Eckhard has projected
that at the present rate, it will take around 15 years to complete, so
the sooner you make a contribution the better!! Please go to the Path
section of The CoA website and hit the "Technical Specifications"
hyperlink, there is a list of important "must be" specs for path
tiles.
Please highlight the relevant section and "print selection". It should
fit onto one sheet of A4 paper for easy reference. I have cut out all
the long-winded reasons for certain specs, because there was probably
information overload. But as regular Clayart readers will know, it is
due to environmental and climatic conditions, as well as safety
factors. Plus it is planned, that The Path will be around for a very
long time... Maybe hundreds or even thousands of years? After all, it
is in a designated heritage area.
Except for rumours of a "ceramic road" up to a castle in the Czech
Republic somewhere, we do not know of any similar project. This we
attribute to public liability issues -- especially in litigious
countries like the USA. A tiled pathway which thousands of people of
all ages and (dis)abilities walk on annually, with tiles made by many
different makers... Well, it is a potential nightmare for the
landowners / insurance holders and an invitation to a gaggle of
no-win, no-fee lawyers to set up a claims office on-site!
Which is one reason we are so strict on applying the "specs" here too.
If tiles do not fulfil them and pass quality control with flying
colours, they do not get used. Period. O.K. They may be used for
edging, but not anywhere a person could slip or trip on whilst walking
The Path in a "normal" way. This leaves about three to four rows along
the sides for those with extreme lumps and bumps, as well as really
glassy ones. Those which will degrade in a short time (e.g. Raku) or
are not sturdy enough will definitely not be used even around the
edges.
If you do undertake a similar project with a group near you, it is
well to be aware of the important safety and legal considerations.
Even in dry climates, accidental spills can make tiles into a
potential skid pad. Probably the main reason group tile or mosaic
projects are usually wall-mounted or 3D like seats, sculptures or
water features. We would really like to encourage schools and class
teachers to undertake similar projects for the good of their own
communities, rather than sending tiles to The Path, but that is
difficult to say, however diplomatically expressed. Don't get me
wrong... We have received some great tiles from schools, especially
those where the teachers have been strict, which we are truly grateful
for. But we have several boxes full of tiles we will not be able to
use, which is a disappointment for the children and a waste.
But it is a POTTERS' Path after all. So although there is no age limit
on who qualifies as a Potter or not, there are certain standards we
want to uphold. For example, we have found that most tiles made in
classes are low-fired and definitely not vitrified or waterproof,
aside from any other aspect. I hesitate saying that the artistic
merits are not good enough, because that sounds awful. Indeed some of
the tiles are so "artistic" they are visually beautiful, but they are
impractical and totally unusable for this project. I feel like an old
meany saying that, but there you go. And as you all know, diplomacy is
not my strong point.
Janet Kaiser - just back from the final performance by our local
choir... Not enough young blood to continue. Society is changing fast,
even here in Wales. Disco, rap, garage... Anything but full-blooded
Welsh choirs blasting out. End of an era... But a tremendous exit.
Well worth the numb bum from sitting three hours in a very hard pew.
And the conductor chose two ceramic animal sculptures by Jan Beeny as
his farewell present! A hare and a hound... It was tremendous fun
"gift wrapping" them! Good job it was England vs. Denmark on this
afternoon... No one around to hear the muttering.
The Chapel of Art / Capel Celfyddyd
Home of The International Potters' Path
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth LL52 0EA : GB-Wales
Telephone: ++44 (0)1766-523570
URL: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
postbox@the-coa.org.uk
> Is anyone in the States doing a project like that? Our art center is
> considering doing a mosaic on the front of the building and I am
hoping they
> will include some whole tiles into the design as well.
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