claybair on fri 19 dec 03
Last week I went to a strange "Empty Bowls" project.
Our local arts and crafts gallery sent me an email
asking if I would participate. I was glad to hear that we were
doing such a project so answered I would be glad to participate.
It turns out that they bought bisque bowls, underglaze and
glaze. I was chagrined that I was reduced to the ranks of a
"Paint your own" party instead of donating bowls I made.
It was later explained to me that most of the people participating were
artists not potters and they wanted a "what you see is what you get" system.
During the event the person hosting this shindig announces that
after we "decorate" these bowls they will be glazed in Duncan
^06 glaze that will not craze. They are using Duncan underglazes and ^06 ox
Duncan glaze
called Diamond Clear (GL612). They chose that glaze because it didn't
craze....It also turns out this glaze has encapsulated lead in it. He gave a
vague statement about how they will not be good to use in the dishwasher as
they are low fired but asserted that they are food safe.
These pieces will be sold locally and I was really concerned about their
actual food safety.
I announced that these pieces should be labeled unsafe for food to the 30+
people in the studio.
I'm sure I pissed off several people for expressing my reluctance to sign a
piece with my name without stating it is not food safe. So I wrote on the
bottom of my bowls below my signature "not food safe".
I called the host potter several days ago and he told me he scratched my
"not food safe" off before he fired them!!! He said if I wrote that on my
pots then it made them all not food safe. He was clearly annoyed..... He
doesn't know the half of it!
I called Duncan and they assured me that IF they are fired to 06 they are
food safe.
The potter firing these pieces assured me they will go to ^06.
I called Clayart Pottery Supply in Tacoma and was assured of the
safety...let me paraphrase "Oh Duncan would never do anything harmful. It
must be safe after all California has the most stringent regulations. Duncan
Diamond Clear is a VERY popular glaze."
I then called Seattle Pottery Supply and was told they do not carry Duncan.
Not able to access the MSDS on their web site I called Duncan again as I was
interested in the lead %.
Duncan called back and was told it has 26% lead per weight.
Note...I've been told repeatedly that if it is acceptable in Calif. it must
be ok.
Sorry this is still not sitting well with me. It is flying in the face of
all I have read and heard.
So tonight I called Monona Rossel in NYC. Let's just put it this way....
after talking to her
I feel vindicated but very sad that clay suppliers and all these little
shops are using/selling this stuff thinking it is perfectly safe!
My plan is to get the bowls I decorated and send at least one of them to
Alfred for testing. Monona will contact me with information that I will pass
onto the gallery, the host potter and Clayart.
Stay tuned for Chapter 2........
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
Earl Krueger on sat 20 dec 03
Responsibility!
I love it when people step up and take
responsibility for their actions.
If we all don't develop the necessary social
conscience regarding our work the government
will step in and do it for us. They will regulate
studio potters to extinction.
First to go will be the hobbyists and barely
getting by businesses. Next will be the
more successful potters who won't be
able to afford the extra costs; certified lab
testing of every glaze and kiln firing.
Surprise inspection of facilities. Hazardous
materials licensing. Pollution monitoring
and control. Paperwork up the kazoo.
And $$$$.
"But I can use lead glazes because my
Vaas-es aren't meant to hold wine" needs
to become as archaic as knights in white
armour.
Every day we loose a little more of our
freedom to government regulations.
Gayle's outrage and actions reflect the
attitude we as a community need to embrace
in order to be able to pursue our passion.
Soap box will now be relegated to a step
stool for reaching high shelves until it is
needed again.
Earl...
Bothell, WA, USA
wayneinkeywest on sat 20 dec 03
Just adding two bits to Earl's excellent comments:
We also, as a community (of potters, though worldwide we be) need to vote
with our pocketbooks/wallets/bank accounts ie.:
If we don't BUY lead containing substances
such as glazes, and use such items, there will be no MARKET for them, and
the manufacturers will soon get the hint and stop making them.
Gayle, you are right on in your actions.
Wayne Seidl
> Responsibility!
>
> I love it when people step up and take
> responsibility for their actions.
>
> If we all don't develop the necessary social
> conscience regarding our work the government
> will step in and do it for us. They will regulate
> studio potters to extinction.
>
> First to go will be the hobbyists and barely
> getting by businesses. Next will be the
> more successful potters who won't be
> able to afford the extra costs; certified lab
> testing of every glaze and kiln firing.
> Surprise inspection of facilities. Hazardous
> materials licensing. Pollution monitoring
> and control. Paperwork up the kazoo.
> And $$$$.
>
> "But I can use lead glazes because my
> Vaas-es aren't meant to hold wine" needs
> to become as archaic as knights in white
> armour.
>
> Every day we loose a little more of our
> freedom to government regulations.
> Gayle's outrage and actions reflect the
> attitude we as a community need to embrace
> in order to be able to pursue our passion.
>
>
> Soap box will now be relegated to a step
> stool for reaching high shelves until it is
> needed again.
>
> Earl...
> Bothell, WA, USA
claybair on sun 21 dec 03
Wayne,
The issue here is blindly accepting what the manufacturers say.
Often people will do just that instead of listening to the little voice that
says... "What's wrong with this picture" because they want to believe.
So the little "paint your own shop" gets a glaze that doesn't crawl or craze
and their clients take home their painted and glazed gems & are
unaware that they may be poisoning those most dear to them.
I called the potter who was hosting the empty bowls project.....
I feel sorry for him even though he should have known better...
he is a victim too. I hope he sees that I am not attacking him or the
offer to help but joins the effort to correct the issue.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of
wayneinkeywest
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 4:20 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: A Safe leaded glaze???
Just adding two bits to Earl's excellent comments:
We also, as a community (of potters, though worldwide we be) need to vote
with our pocketbooks/wallets/bank accounts ie.:
If we don't BUY lead containing substances
such as glazes, and use such items, there will be no MARKET for them, and
the manufacturers will soon get the hint and stop making them.
Gayle, you are right on in your actions.
Wayne Seidl
> Responsibility!
>
> I love it when people step up and take
> responsibility for their actions.
>
> If we all don't develop the necessary social
> conscience regarding our work the government
> will step in and do it for us. They will regulate
> studio potters to extinction.
>
> First to go will be the hobbyists and barely
> getting by businesses. Next will be the
> more successful potters who won't be
> able to afford the extra costs; certified lab
> testing of every glaze and kiln firing.
> Surprise inspection of facilities. Hazardous
> materials licensing. Pollution monitoring
> and control. Paperwork up the kazoo.
> And $$$$.
>
> "But I can use lead glazes because my
> Vaas-es aren't meant to hold wine" needs
> to become as archaic as knights in white
> armour.
>
> Every day we loose a little more of our
> freedom to government regulations.
> Gayle's outrage and actions reflect the
> attitude we as a community need to embrace
> in order to be able to pursue our passion.
>
>
> Soap box will now be relegated to a step
> stool for reaching high shelves until it is
> needed again.
>
> Earl...
> Bothell, WA, USA
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