Norma Williams on wed 23 jun 04
Hi all!
I know of a pottery that has been doing raku birdbaths on sculptural =
steel stands. The pieces are a combination of bare clay and some =
glazes.The raku is sealed with either epoxy or some form of =
concrete/waterproofing sealant. I know the epoxy peeled off after the =
first season, but I am not sure about the sealant they are using now =
performs. They recommend the pieces be brought in for the winter. I =
love these pieces and would like to try something like this, but have =
serious doubts about the durability and don't want customers breathing =
down my back a year later. What do you think????
Norma Williams
Mangum OK
njwilliams@itlnet.net
Craig Dunn Clark on thu 24 jun 04
Norma, unfortunately I can say with certainty that raku is not well
suited for the purpose of a bird bath. I have been asked by several folks to
make them and have politely explained why I am not able to do so. To do
otherwise is to mis-represent what a raku fired piece may be used for.
The clay body is not vitrified. Because of this it will continue to
absorb moisture over the long haul, even if it is sealed. Raku glazes,
especially those of the copper matt variety, are not durable. They aren't
even strong enough to be safely used for food services, much less to
withstand the rigors of an outdoor enviroment. Additionally, the copper
matts are photo reactive. So if they are placed outdoors, even if they are
sealed, they will fade with time.
Having said all of this, if you have a customer who is so enamored with
a particular raku glaze and you have fully explained to them what will
indeed happen to the piece over time, then by all means go for it. Just let
everyone know that there is absolutely nothing archival about a raku fired
piece. There is notthing that I know of, perhaps someone else on the list
knows otherwise, that will preserve a raku piece in an outdoor environment.
Especially if it is used as a bird bath.
If you decide to pursue the project there are a variety of sealants that
you may use to retard the degradation of the glaze and the clay, but none of
them will stop it. At least not to my knowledge.The archives are full of
suggestions tried, and used by many. A couple of the most effective are a
clear acrylic or a standard grout sealer. One thing you might try is to take
the piece and periodically re-seal it. I don't think that it will prevent
change from occuring but it will help.
If you make one, take a properly balanced photo of the piece after it is
initially cleaned. Then take another of what it looks like after it is
sealed. Then start documenting, via photo image, what the piece looks like
over the next several years. You will most likely discover that it is aging
gradually, just like our faces do. We just don't notice the changes in our
face because it is gradual and we see it every day. It is not until we see
that older photo, of when we were "young", that there is that visual
thunderbolt of change.
I look upon raku as being closely tied to the organic nature of
ourselves and our univese. It is by nature subject to change. It ages,
usually gracefully. It relfects the organic flux of our existence rather
than being a more permanent aspect of time that high fired stoneware
becomes. It is part of what I do to try and pass this info along as best I
am able.
I've posted this before, and will do so agian as often as the mayor
permits. For a definitive explantion of raku glazes and what happens to them
consult the published work of Tom Buck at the following link
http://ceramic-materials.com/cermat/education/113.html
Hope this helps
Craig Dunn Clark
619 East 11 1/2 st
Houston, Texas 77008
(713)861-2083
mudman@hal-pc.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Norma Williams"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 1:50 PM
Subject: Raku birdbath???
Hi all!
I know of a pottery that has been doing raku birdbaths on sculptural steel
stands. The pieces are a combination of bare clay and some glazes.The raku
is sealed with either epoxy or some form of concrete/waterproofing sealant.
I know the epoxy peeled off after the first season, but I am not sure about
the sealant they are using now performs. They recommend the pieces be
brought in for the winter. I love these pieces and would like to try
something like this, but have serious doubts about the durability and don't
want customers breathing down my back a year later. What do you think????
Norma Williams
Mangum OK
njwilliams@itlnet.net
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
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Kelly Thiel on thu 24 jun 04
I saw a product called (or maybe its made by) Water Warden at NCECA this
past spring that could work for something like this. Check out their
website to learn more! Hope it helps!!
Kelly in Folly Beach, SC where it is hot and humid......
----- Original Message -----
From: "Norma Williams"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 2:50 PM
Subject: Raku birdbath???
Hi all!
I know of a pottery that has been doing raku birdbaths on sculptural steel
stands. The pieces are a combination of bare clay and some glazes.The raku
is sealed with either epoxy or some form of concrete/waterproofing sealant.
I know the epoxy peeled off after the first season, but I am not sure about
the sealant they are using now performs. They recommend the pieces be
brought in for the winter. I love these pieces and would like to try
something like this, but have serious doubts about the durability and don't
want customers breathing down my back a year later. What do you think????
Norma Williams
Mangum OK
njwilliams@itlnet.net
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Lee Love on thu 24 jun 04
A friend of mine back in St. Paul fired Continental Clay
terracotta to cone 1 to vitrify them for use as outdoor fountains.
Folks usually use this clay at cone 04. Talk to your clay provided
before you try this at home. ;-)
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://journals.fotki.com/togeika/Mashiko/ Commentary On Pottery
Norma Williams on thu 24 jun 04
Thanks Craig, Kelly, Lee and Phil!
Some good information that makes re-rethink my plan a bit, maybe by
considering indoor fountains instead. The terracotta sounds like a
possibility, but I am thinking one could also do a shell or exterior in Raku
for the unique colors/textures offered, with a liner (the actual
fountain/water container) in stoneware. I think the bird bath idea is out.
Thanks, friends, you all probably just saved me time and frustration!
Norma Williams
Mangum OK
njwilliams@ITLnet.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Dunn Clark"
To:
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2004 10:42 AM
Subject: Re: Raku birdbath???
> Norma, unfortunately I can say with certainty that raku is not well
> suited for the purpose of a bird bath. I have been asked by several folks
to
> make them and have politely explained why I am not able to do so. To do
> otherwise is to mis-represent what a raku fired piece may be used for.
> The clay body is not vitrified. Because of this it will continue to
> absorb moisture over the long haul, even if it is sealed. Raku glazes,
> especially those of the copper matt variety, are not durable. They aren't
> even strong enough to be safely used for food services, much less to
> withstand the rigors of an outdoor enviroment. Additionally, the copper
> matts are photo reactive. So if they are placed outdoors, even if they are
> sealed, they will fade with time.
> Having said all of this, if you have a customer who is so enamored
with
> a particular raku glaze and you have fully explained to them what will
> indeed happen to the piece over time, then by all means go for it. Just
let
> everyone know that there is absolutely nothing archival about a raku fired
> piece. There is notthing that I know of, perhaps someone else on the list
> knows otherwise, that will preserve a raku piece in an outdoor
environment.
> Especially if it is used as a bird bath.
> If you decide to pursue the project there are a variety of sealants
that
> you may use to retard the degradation of the glaze and the clay, but none
of
> them will stop it. At least not to my knowledge.The archives are full of
> suggestions tried, and used by many. A couple of the most effective are a
> clear acrylic or a standard grout sealer. One thing you might try is to
take
> the piece and periodically re-seal it. I don't think that it will prevent
> change from occuring but it will help.
> If you make one, take a properly balanced photo of the piece after it
is
> initially cleaned. Then take another of what it looks like after it is
> sealed. Then start documenting, via photo image, what the piece looks like
> over the next several years. You will most likely discover that it is
aging
> gradually, just like our faces do. We just don't notice the changes in our
> face because it is gradual and we see it every day. It is not until we see
> that older photo, of when we were "young", that there is that visual
> thunderbolt of change.
> I look upon raku as being closely tied to the organic nature of
> ourselves and our univese. It is by nature subject to change. It ages,
> usually gracefully. It relfects the organic flux of our existence rather
> than being a more permanent aspect of time that high fired stoneware
> becomes. It is part of what I do to try and pass this info along as best I
> am able.
> I've posted this before, and will do so agian as often as the mayor
> permits. For a definitive explantion of raku glazes and what happens to
them
> consult the published work of Tom Buck at the following link
> http://ceramic-materials.com/cermat/education/113.html
> Hope this helps
> Craig Dunn Clark
> 619 East 11 1/2 st
> Houston, Texas 77008
> (713)861-2083
> mudman@hal-pc.org
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Norma Williams"
> To:
> Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 1:50 PM
> Subject: Raku birdbath???
>
>
> Hi all!
> I know of a pottery that has been doing raku birdbaths on sculptural steel
> stands. The pieces are a combination of bare clay and some glazes.The raku
> is sealed with either epoxy or some form of concrete/waterproofing
sealant.
> I know the epoxy peeled off after the first season, but I am not sure
about
> the sealant they are using now performs. They recommend the pieces be
> brought in for the winter. I love these pieces and would like to try
> something like this, but have serious doubts about the durability and
don't
> want customers breathing down my back a year later. What do you think????
> Norma Williams
> Mangum OK
> njwilliams@itlnet.net
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
> __
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
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