mel jacobson on sat 1 jan 05
i did not mean for anyone to think
that one has to fire cone 11 electric.
any glaze can be fluxed/manipulated to
fire at cone 6. it may not be the same, but
often close and interesting.
ron and john have started a revolution in
firing to cone 6...ox.
these glazes that come from joe are meant for
high fire...sorta like an old chinese kiln. that is
the project...and, i have just the kiln to do it in.
what i mean is:
not all great pots are fired in a gas/wood/cone 10 reduction
atmosphere. and, if i can help folks understand that
the best kiln in the world, is the one you own.
you just have to learn to use it.
when one does the simple stats...how many
potters are working in the world?
how many men, how many women?
i would bet, the overwhelming number would
be:
women, firing cone 6 electric or less. maybe 3 to 1.
it is often very arrogant folks that think that
what they do...is far more important than what
others are doing. sorry, i don't buy it.
never have.
if i could wish for anything for the clayart gang, it would
be:
work the kiln and materials you have.
take your work to a new level.
trust your own instincts, and don't wish for
something you don't have, or can't have.
work with what you do have...make it work.
and find the joy of working with clay, making something
of value, and then in return make a few coins to keep
it going.
i like to think of mata ortiz, mexico. folks hand building,
firing with sticks...and making something that very
few people on this earth can match.
i have never seen a gas/cone 10 kiln in mata ortiz.
and, golly, they make pots too. and i seem to remember
seeing pots in thailand, india, all over the place that did
not come from anagamas/or arch topped gas fired kilns.
they seem to be potters too. damn good potters. and, we
can learn much from them.
mel
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
new/ http://www.rid-a-tick.com
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
new/ http://www.rid-a-tick.com
URL Krueger on sat 1 jan 05
On Saturday 01 January 2005 08:35 am, mel jacobson wrote:
> the best kiln in the world, is the one you own.
> you just have to learn to use it.
If I may so audacious as to add to Mel's comments.
A kiln, any kiln, is better than no kiln at all,
for without a kiln what can a potter do.
After decades of "Gee, pottery might be fun" I started with
a $150 garage sale kiln that my wife bought for me, an old
coffee table, a chair, a book and a bag of clay.
Those early hand-built pots are still the best I've ever
done.
--
Earl K...
Bothell WA, USA
U.S. Marine Corps 1967-1971
If we, as a country, feel that this war is justified
then we should all bear the burden equally by
reinstituting the draft for all men and women 18-30.
Would we then feel that the war was justified?
John Britt on sat 1 jan 05
Mel,
You wrote:
"when one does the simple stats...how many
potters are working in the world?
how many men, how many women?
i would bet, the overwhelming number would
be:
women, firing cone 6 electric or less. maybe 3 to 1.
it is often very arrogant folks that think that
what they do...is far more important than what
others are doing. sorry, i don't buy it.
never have."
I could be wrong but I would bet the majority are single firing with
wood/dung including pit firing. It is a big world out there many of them
don't have electricity or electric kilns!
Just my opinion,
John Britt
www.johnbrittpottery.com
Alisa Liskin Clausen on sun 2 jan 05
On Sat, 1 Jan 2005 10:35:41 -0600, mel jacobson wrote:
>i did not mean for anyone to think
>that one has to fire cone 11 electric.
That is the past; the hotter, the more status, real or professional,
whatever else we could glorify ourselves with.
Now, through eye opening exploration, new found appreciation and validation
through learning new methods, we are not judged on how high we fire, but
perhaps what we fired and how it all ended up.
>
>any glaze can be fluxed/manipulated to
>fire at cone 6. it may not be the same, but
>often close and interesting.
This the present.
We are experimenting, learning, widening our knowledge and getting
results to fit our needs, limitations and desires, with the help of our
ceramic community always sharing and adding space.
>ron and john have started a revolution in
>firing to cone 6...ox.
This is the future.
No specific revolution in firing electric, as many city dwellers do that
due to space and fire regulations. Others, like myself, fire electric
because that is the kiln I own and it fits my needs. However, John and Ron
have made powerful and significant strides in drawing our attention to how
to work safelty, as well as how to make non toxic glazes for food
surfaces. They have, through their hardwork and subsequent attention of
Clayart,and many other publications, workshops, NCECA, etc., made
breakthrough awareness to many, many ceramists.
Hopefully, we can get the next generation of potters to keep paying
attention to these health related issues of our craft plus the importance
of durable glazes for food surfaces.
> >what i mean is:
>
>not all great pots are fired in a gas/wood/cone 10 reduction
>atmosphere. and, if i can help folks understand that
>
> the best kiln in the world, is the one you own.
>you just have to learn to use it.
Just as long as you are making pots, you are a potter. A crappy pot still
looks crappy at 01 or 13. Even a glossy photo serves only as the Emperor's
new clothing for a crappy pot. We are fortunate that through transcultural
communication, respect and exploration, people are appreciating the
integrity, validity and beauty of good pots fired in all atmospheres and at
all temperatures. That we can all get a pat on the back for, just for
communicating.
Regards from Alisa in Denmark
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