Here’s to the next year and all the new pots.
First day checklist:
Introduction icebreakers
Syllabus review
Existential dread about the semester
Check, check, and CHECK!
Okay, okay. Before jumping straight into, let’s have a little introduction of what I’ve been up to.
This summer, 2022, I moved from Northfield, MN, to New Albany, IN, to attend IUS as a post-bacc. Over the last couple of months before classes started, I oriented myself to the studio space—1. struggled with and learned the quirks of a new clay body 2. explored the studio glazes and slips 3. fired a soda kiln full of testers. After all that discourse, I’ve started to feel settled. Quick recap over…now it’s time to see what the past week was all about.
First, I’m finally revisiting tea/coffee pots. Like many other potters, I have entered the ring of trying to balance function (How much liquid? Good feel in the hand? Pour?) and aesthetic. This is the first of many to come.
Second, I am continuing my exploration of relation. Specifically, the relationship between my pots and the soda firing process. I started this exploration over the summer with a plate series; now I’m further exploring through cups and stands. My biggest question is: How to better control the flame path to leave shadows on my pots and their firing stands?
