Late to the 3 Week Hiatus
March 24th Weekly Update
March 17th Weekly Update
NCECA Adventures
So much happened this week at NCECA and I really can’t describe it all, but here is a short bullet list of the major takeaways.
Volunteering is fun, but it took away a lot of my freedom during the conference. I enjoyed most of my shifts but I think next year I’ll look to volunteer during set up or tear down so that during the conference I have more autonomy.
Wednesday should be gallery hopping day. I got to see some great shows, but missed out on a lot, too. I think Wednesday should be dedicated to exhibition hopping because after the conference you don’t get a lot of time to see things before they close.
Meeting old friends and making new ones. The demos and lectures are great, but I really feel that the socializing aspect is what I thrive on at NCECA. Just meeting new people and talking is really nice.
Feeling excited for future NCECAs and I really want to participate more by proposing exhibitions or panels.
Spring Break Shenanigans
Firing after firing! Finally getting around to process my earthenware exploration and it’s exciting me. I’m really liking the endicott clay body and wish to explore that clay body more. Pete’s earthenware body felt too much like bisque at it’s designated firing temperature, so I fired hotter. I think cone 1/2 give that recipe a deeper brown (what is shown is a cone 04 firing which leaves it took bisque like). However, when I re-fired my pot I got a massive crack. ugh.
Finally pushed through a lattice teapot. I’m quite excited by this but am terrified by surface. Will need to just jump into a firing and see how I like it.
Lastly, got to join in on Kade’s and Jooby’s soda firing. It was real blast and we all learned a lot from the results…even if we weren’t all happy with them.
Biggest lesson I learned is my doped porcelain body cannot have a heavy soda load or else the subtle carbon trapping and red flash turns an ugly grey and cannot be distinguished from the glaze surface.
Also, Doom 2 was pretty good.
March 10th Weekly Update
Reimbursements and Pots
Dirtbags finally made enough to fund our trip to NCECA (as pictured with Brian). This week was focused heavily on prepping some pots for Kade’s upcoming soda firing as well as shorting out finances for the trip. Wet studio wise I’m continuing my exploration of these sculptural jars and playing with orientation and what subject matter should adorn the lid. I need to find a more nuanced or personal subject as I fear I am currently playing with a bad stereotype/unknown (personal unknowing — what authority do I have to make these objects?). Lastly, I’m starting to feel stagnated by this heavy reliance on blue and white and I’m looking for a way out. IDK what that will be.
