Alisa Liskin Clausen on fri 5 jan 07
On Fri, 5 Jan 2007 00:12:37 -0000, Wally wrote:
>Hello Alisa,
>Thanks for feedback.
>I do agree that using local materials is the best way to go.
>Realised that I wrote my posting more with "naked raku" glazes in the
>back of my mind, rather than standard "western raku" glazes, which
>offer much more possibillities.
>Gerstley Borate (GB) is an almost unreplacable material for my own
>glazes, as the generous "bubbling" or "orange peel effect" is so
>important to judge the precise moment to withdraw from the kiln.
>
Hi Wally,
Yes, that is correct. When I heard about the G.B. situation in the US, I
had not really worked out the subbing here yet. Hence, I ordered a 25 lb.
bag. Have loads left. That was a pair of years back, so I will have to
ring again. Chances are they have a good supply. It did come in the
original bag and I seem to recall that it was from the US. I will look
into it on Monday for you. I will find out price and then maybe you can
see if can pay to send it to you.
Yes, remote USA, which I love. When I lived in NY, I loved that drawing by
R. Stein (?) where he illustrated the world. NYC was about 40% of the
world, with every other land following behind, becoming smaller and
smaller. I felt like he was right. But now over here, incredible as it
is, I thrive in tiny Denmark. But I would sure like a bagel.
I will write to you off line next time,
Kind regards, Alisa in Denmark
Wally on fri 5 jan 07
Hello Alisa,
Thanks for feedback.
I do agree that using local materials is the best way to go.
Realised that I wrote my posting more with "naked raku" glazes in the
back of my mind, rather than standard "western raku" glazes, which
offer much more possibillities.
Gerstley Borate (GB) is an almost unreplacable material for my own
glazes, as the generous "bubbling" or "orange peel effect" is so
important to judge the precise moment to withdraw from the kiln.
No other frit or alternative GB mineral that I tried, ever yearned a
comparable visibility or quality of results.
So hence my suggestion to Tracey to ship GB from where it is mined.
By the way, pretty amused by your comparing the US as "remote parts of
the world"......
One question : is GB still widely available in Denmark ?
I seem to remember you once posted to Clayart that Danish Clay
Suppliers still stored massive amounts, tons and tons at that time....
My daughter was on a short trip to Copenhagen about a year ago,
supposed to pick some up, but she got caught up in traffic and did not
make it before closing time...
If they still have it, would consider to have some sent by parcel
post, if it is really the "original" stuff from the mine in California
near Death Valley, and not a sell-out of some of the so-called
"alternative GB" mixtures that haunted the US market a couple of years
ago.....
Any idea about prices ?
A large Clay Supplier in Flanders recently got original GB back for
sale, but at a mindblowing price of 18.00 Euro per kilogram (about
12.00 US dollar for one pound...)
Take care,
Wally.
Schoten, Belgium.
(to be pronounced with a schnitzel in one's mouth.....)
www.wallyasselberghs.be
--- In clayart@yahoogroups.com, Alisa Liskin Clausen wrote:
> When I moved from NJ, America to Aabenraa, Denmark (say that with a
> herring in your throat!) I thought that I could not make any glazes
> without the Gerstley Borate I grew up on.
> That is what initially prompted the glaze testing in me.
> However, the best lesson I have learned is: ta dah,
> learn and use your local materials.
> Wally is a great Raku artist.
> With due respect, I would not yearn for any materials that need to
> be shipped from remote parts of the world.
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