Splendid Flame

Please mark your calender for my next show February 6-28th at THE SPIRAL GALLERY in Estacada, OR. Opening night reception is February 6th from 6pm to 8pm. There will be wine, cheese, crackers and I'm working on a little live music too.

I will be showing pieces from my most recent firings in my kiln, The Chicken Pot Pie, and from an anagama, Soulgama, in Brush Prairie, WA. I'm also excited to show a few fun Boho necklaces I've been working on with handmade wood-fired pendents.

I hope to see you there.
Cheers!

Saying Goodbye

It's been almost a year since my life changed forever with the loss of a very dear person. I've wanted to write this post for nearly that long, but it's been hard finding my way to it. This is not going to be a post about my dear friend, that is too personal, but a post about clay and the path to healing.

The decision for cremation was made and the ashes would be spread on our property during an intimate gathering of only the closest friends and family. I have to admit the first thing that came to mind was the scene in The Big Lebowski with The Dude catching a face full of Donnie's ashes. Things can go very wrong when spreading ashes and although amusing in a movie one should try to avoid it in real life. My dear friend was gentle and sincere and I just had to find a way to give him a gentle farewell.  

I looked around for ideas, but with ashes the best people have to offer is dropping from an airplane or having the ashes turned into fireworks and shot into the air. Both of these would be great send offs for the right people, but not this one.  Somehow the story of chai tea on Indian trains came to mind. I got to work.

I started throwing small unfired urns that we could carry into the woods, spend a moment saying goodbye, and place under trees, ferns, flowers. With the rain the clay would gently dissolve and the clay and ashes would gently become one with the earth.  

I write about this here to give the idea to others looking for a way to say goodbye peacefully. It is an option that I wanted to share.

Let your heart sing.

-B

Loading a wood-fire kiln

Loading a wood fired kiln is a labor of love. Loading any kiln is like putting together a puzzle with no idea what the final picture looks like. Wood firing adds another step, every piece that will touch another surface needs to be separated by wadding and or kiln wash (which is a watered down version of wadding). You will see the little balls under all the pots as they are going in. This includes the lids of pots.

This video is short and sweet, don't want to bore you.  This will give you just a little taste of how the process shakes down.

P.S. I apologize for the quality of this video. I will never claim to be a tech savvy person, but I just had to give this a shot. Enjoy!

The Estacada Development Association
presents
The 3rd Annual
Estacada
Winter Artisan
Show & Sale
Fine Art...Fine Crafts...Folk Art...
Quality Handmade Works
December 6,    5-8pm
December 7,   10am-5pm
Estacada City Hall
on Broadway at Historic City Hall
in Downtown Estacada
Proceeds benefit Estacada’s Main Street Program
Door Prizes Drawn Half Hourly
more info at:
 www.EDA1.org
Follow us on Facebook

I still have lots to do before my show, but I've got a few new decorative pieces that took me out of my comfort zone and got me to play and explore. I'm getting the pieces ready and I'm excited to show another side of myself. Just a few weeks away....September 6th is the opening.

www.thespiralgallery.com

U Know Me (or Yunomi)

Yunomi (Japanese: 湯のみ) is a teacup, that is taller than wide, with a trimmed or turned foot. Unlike the more formal chawan tea bowl which is used during the Japanese tea ceremony, the yunomi is made for daily (or informal) tea drinking.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. Although we haven't had much of a chance to camp, as we do most summers, we have been getting lots of things done around the farm. In addition to the daily chicken, goat, garden and dog chores, we've added bees and I'm putting in as much time as I can in my studio. I've got a couple interesting projects coming up. The 4th annual The Powerhouse Project, 2nd Annual OPA invitational show at the North Bank Gallery in Vancouver, and most importantly my own show at The Spiral Gallery September 6-29th.

I'm working on some new and very different decorative pieces. A little out of my comfort zone, but I'm having fun and enjoying the challenge. I hope you will consider joining me for the opening reception of my show "hands/fire/heart" on September 6th from 6-8pm at The Spiral Gallery, 341 S Broadway, Estacada, OR 97023.I'll be showing work from wood kilns as well as some low-fire Terra-cota. Speaking of that, I better get back into the studio. 

My individual show will be in September. The opening will be the first Friday, September 6th. Also, check out our summer schedule of little art classes. www.thespiralgallery.com

 

www.ceramicshowcase.com

It's been way too long.

I have been so focused on other social media building that I have forgotten about my blog. Back in December I started doing the layout work for The Sunrise Times as a way to connect and give back to my community. It's been wonderful work, but it does take a chunk of time and after spending all that time on the computer I try to shut it off and go in the studio. I guess that would be another reason I'm not updating or posting some great pictures.

I'm really enjoying being a member of The Spiral Gallery. The community of Estacada is small, but has a substantial art community with a great bunch of involved citizens. By getting to know a few in this community I've been invited to take part in a few events and workshops focused on getting the arts into the public and getting more people of all ages involved and appreciating all the arts have to offer. The most recent workshop focused on social media. I thought I had a bit of a handle on Facebook and a little Twittering now and then, but I'm practically a dinosaur in the eyes of the experts. I need staff....don't we all.

Ceramic Showcase is just days away and there is still so much to do. The nature of wood-firing means a lot of time with a dremel; grinding and smoothing and then checking the pots water holding abilities. So far I've only had one in this batch that seemed to be weeping.

I've got some beautiful pots for this years show. I hope you'll be able to join us. Bring the kids, we have a clay play area for them.

May you and your loved ones be safe and surrounded by love and hope.

See you at Booth D11.

Fun in Estacada

The Estacada Summer Celebration is coming up July 27 and 28. The Spiral Gallery in downtown Estacada takes a big part in this summer event and I'm excited to be part of it. This will be my first year and I look forward to all the fun. The website for the event, www.estacadasc.org, lists the music schedule and the participating artists along with many other attractions and family fun. It looks like a great time especially if you have children. I hope to see you there.

Speaking of wood-fire...

It's been far too long since I've posted on my blog. I think about it all the time, but always come up with something else to do...aaahhh gardening. I'm finally getting around to writing down what I learned this year at Ceramic Showcase. I had a great show and to be honest I'm already looking forward to next years show. It's always so great to see all these amazing talented artists come together and work, laugh, and catch up. This year since I was not in charge of the show I thought I would give a concerted effort to spend more time in my booth and talk to potential customers. This is very difficult for me. I could probably sell something of yours far better then selling my own work, which essentially is selling myself. People who know me think it odd that I have such a hard time with this, but I really lean far on the Introvert side of the Myers-Briggs personality test.

As to what I learned. It's not as hard to spend time in my booth and talk with a few people as I thought. I would try to gauge the person's interest and ask if they had any questions or complement them personally. That usually broke the ice. On one particular occasion my world was changed. A lady and her daughter stepped into my booth and picked up one of my more expensive mugs. She looked at it a bit and set it down. I pointed out that I had some more reasonably priced mugs on another shelf if she was interested. She looked at me and asked "why is that one so much more?" This was my chance to speak about the wood-fire process that I am so excited about, but I didn't want to bore the pants off of her, it's all about balance. I wanted her to see that although the others were very nice, this one was special. It had all the features of wood-fire I love. So I gave a run down of the basics...I don't really use or rely on glazes to finish my work, the ash from the fire flies through the kiln, lands on the red hot pots, melts, drips, creates crystals...sometimes, flashing, wadding, grinding...etc. She soaked it in and grabbed the mug, "I'll take it, but I don't know if I'll remember all of that". Her daughter looked and smiled "I got it mom".

I was on cloud nine. I loved that mug and was so pleased with how it came out and it found a home that will look a little deeper and closer at it then the average mug. That is why I do wood-fire and pottery. I want to make functional art that adds to peoples lives and makes them look at the small things. Now maybe I'm just babbling, but I can hardly express the joy I felt the moment she took that mug and understood that it was one of a kind, unique, maybe like her daughter...special out of all the others.

30th Anniversary Ceramic Showcase

http://www.oregonpotters.org/ceramicshowcase/index.htm

If you are in the Pacific Northwest or you have friends, family etc...please tell everyone you know about this great show. It's at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE ML King Blvd. Portland, OR 97232. It's FREE.

It's the 30th Anniversary of the show so it's going to be Bigger and Better then ever. There is something for everyone so plan to bring the whole family and spend the day. Did I mention it's FREE?


My booth is J7. I'm near the stage and the wine bar...good neighborhood. :):) It's less than a month away and still so much to prepare.

Please help me spread the word.

Odd Treasure

I usually don't do this type of post and don't let the picture offend you, let me explain. This drawing hangs in my studio. It's very special to me because it's a portrait of me drawn by my brother. He was three years older so when I was a lowly Freshman in High School he was a Senior. He made sure I didn't get picked on much. It was probably my favorite year of school and it's because my brother, my friend and hero was there. We had lots of inside jokes which included him calling me Bitch and me calling him F#%^head. One night while I was doing homework he cranked out this little gem. I love the one huge foot and the little hand with the middle finger up. I was never that skinny though. I don't think anyone would think of him as an artist, but this is a Mona Lisa to me.

This is the 21st Anniversary of his death. The other day I realized that this meant I have lived more years without him then I had with him. This realization caught me off guard and stirred up lots of emotions. I thought back to the gray painful days when it first happened and how for years February was so difficult to get through. Then I remembered the March that I realized I made it through February and it wasn't as painful. I was healing. This was a few years after I met the man I married.  It's as if a piece of a puzzle was missing and he gave it back to me. Not quite the same shape, but it still fit. I've always had a happy life, but there was just that little hole in my heart and it got patched.

I still have a pin hole that could never be filled by anyone but my big brother, but my life is once again filled with friendships, companionship, laughter, love and new inside jokes. I'm grateful I had a big brother and especially one that I was friends with and so close to. I really don't think there has been a single day in 21 years that I have not thought about him a little bit. He is always in my heart and because of this portrait, always in my studio.

Sweet Deal

In 2011 I was selected to take part in the Clackamas County Art Alliance Exhibit. My work was displayed for three months in a showcase in the Development Services Building in Oregon City. While walking through the building an art lover fell in love with a soda fired pitcher and contacted me about purchasing it. We played phone tag a few times, but finally got to chat and I discovered she and her husband are apiarists. I jumped on the chance to barter for goods. A bargain was struck and I traded my pitcher for three quarts of honey and a little beeswax.  It worked out for Eric and I to drive out and meet Nancy from Mountain Meadow Honey at her house. Nancy greeted me and was so excited to be reunited with the pitcher she had eyed months before. She was already well versed in ceramics and has wonderful art throughout her beautiful home. I wish I could have chatted longer with her and look forward to meeting up with her again. Mountain Meadow Honey, which now I know is fantastic, is available at Bob's Red Mill. I'm a big fan of the barter system and this deal sure was sweet.

2012 is shaping up to be another busy and exciting year with new adventures in life and clay. As I'm updating my blog I'm also thinking "get int he studio and make pots" I have several firings coming up to prepare for and I always wait till the last minute and turn myself into a stressed out ball of whim. I have time, it's January and if I stick to my guns now I'll be set for the TWO firings in March. I have an unbelievable opportunity to fire with Jack Troy at Soulgama while he is in the area for NCECA. In the picture above I am reading an article written by Jack. He is an amazing potter, poet and writer. I'm ready to get my mind blown by all his insight on all things, not just ceramics. On that note I better get in the studio and make some pots I'm proud to put in the kiln next to one of his. No pressure...none at all...sigh

I am proud to be an exhibiting artist in the Clackamas County Art Alliance Public Art Exhibit.  My work and the work of a wood turner are being displayed in the Development Services Building 3D showcase.

I'm very excited to be part of this program this year and I hope people will take a moment from their busy schedules to take a look and learn more about local artists.

BRAND FIRE Show at MHCC Visual Arts Gallery

From now till September 2nd my one woman show is up at the Mt. Hood Community College Visual Arts Gallery. The Reception night is August 4th from 5:30pm-9pm.

I'm really excited to be showing this body of work and hope you have a chance to check it out. There is so much to see by looking closely at the surfaces. The postcard is a nod to that idea of moving in and looking at all the atmospheric firing creates of the surface of my work. There are ash drips, crystal formations, ash peppering, blushing and traces of the flames.

Mt. Hood Community College Gresham Campus is located at:

26000 SE Stark St
Gresham, Oregon 97030
(503)491-6422

Back to the grind

This week we are experiencing very nice weather and I'm grateful. I have lots of new pots that need attention. After unloading the kiln a wood-fire potter then needs to check every piece and grind off wads or ash that still remain. I'm on day three of this process, but things are looking good and I have the end in sight. Next step is to price them and pack them.

The first picture is of the tools I've been using. A Dremel, very important wood-fire potter tool, and my silicon carbide tip is almost completely used up. I wear a mask while working since I'm creating lots of nasty dust and of course the lovely sanding pads make a nice final finish.

The second shot is of a few pieces just plucked from the kiln. I've been doing goblets, funky shallow bowls, soap dishes and stripes. I'm digging the stripes.

Just Days Away

I'm counting down the days till the 29th Annual Ceramic Showcase. This is such an exciting event for the members of the Oregon Potters Association. We work on putting this show together all year round. We meet monthly to discuss the details of all aspects of this show. We run this show entirely with volunteers. From the set up to the tear down each participant in the show has a job to do. We have a central sales area so you can shop the entire show and check out all at once instead of making multiple purchases from individual artists. We will also have UPS on site for shipping directly from our show.

There is a nice map that is put together so you don't miss anything. We have demonstrations, music scheduled for Friday and Saturday evening, Clay Play areas so you can try it out for yourself and beautiful galleries set up to showcase our finest work. It's a labor of love and I hope you will join us.

Well, here we are deep into January 2011 and I haven't posted a darn thing. It's firing season for the woodfire potter so being on the computer is not where I want or can afford to be. I have at least 4 firings to be getting ready for between now and April and that doesn't just mean making pots, but thinking about the different firings and what clays do better in what kiln and what forms will get the best effect from each kiln. So I'm revisiting my pieces and seeing what worked in the past and what I can improve on. Lots to think about.

The first firing coming up is in the newly rebuilt catenary arch at MHCC. I'm putting in test tiles with various shino glazes to see what looks good. My Chicken Pot Pie kiln at home gives similar results and I will be firing it a few weeks later so this should give me a good idea of how to proceed. I better get back to the studio. So much to do, so little time. Joy to all!