This Week: Porcelain, sculpture, line blends and lots of mugs

It has been a bit of a crazy week. I have felt a little sick and missed some class. I didn't have a lot of work this week due to finals at the high schools. I read Clay and Glazes for the Potter by Daniel Rhodes. It's a good resource with a ton of information. I mixed up a base glaze Thursday and did a line blend using cobalt and manganese. I'm hoping to find a decent purple glaze that isn't shiny or flat looking. Somewhere in the middle at cone 1o; interesting and engaging, yet purple. Who knows if that is even possible. I don't like purple blinds or couches much less purple pots, so I think this could be a good exercise. I used a matte base glaze which is very high in alumina. I'm excited to see the results.

Today I went to the studio and finished up a piece for my sculpture class. It's a mixed media piece. I need to pick up some lumber and glue to create the large wood portion of the sculpture. Tonight I'm watching a burnout kiln at the foundry at PSU. I'm not sure why we watch the kiln overnight, but 2am to 10am that's where I'll be. Maybe I can get some welding done! I've got a whole bunch of mugs to glaze as soon as I do some more glaze tests. I want to find a white glaze that is translucent, flashes black in specks and doesn't run. . . I had better shoot for a nap.

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Porcelain, life-flight, Obama and America

Leisa and I picked up some porcelain at Georgies yesterday. I took 50 lbs of it to the studio today to give it a go. I made 24 oz balls out of a bag(25lbs) and began throwing. After almost 45 minutes, I had 7 poorly thrown cylinders, and 13 lbs of failed attempts. It turns out porcelain doesn't like to be manhandled. I wedged the 13 lbs back into airless shape and let it rest for a bit before revisiting. In the meantime, Kowkie gave a pretty good demo on spouts and showed me how she works with porcelain. She has a much more cooperative and deliberate approach. She reminded me that a predetermined course of action goes a long way with porcelain. It's so soft that when you change your mind about something mid pot, you've got your work cut out.

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We're working on applying for a variance for Leisa. That means she might be able to attend David Douglas High instead of Marshall. She's excited at the prospect of attending there. She's interested in Ceramics, which makes me happy. DDHS has a really great program.

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My Mom was life-flighted to Seattle on Monday. She is now undergoing treatment for her cancer. I hate cancer. Not as much as she hates it, but a lot. 

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The inaugeration yesterday blew my mind. I listened to President Obama and was overwhelmed with hope and joy. I realize that it is a very tough time, and that this uphill battle in America cannot be an easy obstacle for the country, but I really feel like if anybody can inspire us to take the necessary steps, it is him. With that in mind, I signed up for the Worst Day Of The Year Ride. It's a simple indirect thing. I feel like encouraging and supporting a charity that advocates for alternative transportation options is a small way of contributing to the country's well being. A lot of people are struggling in this country. I'm not rich and I certainly don't have my shit together in many ways, but I do have a bit of time and with that in mind, I'm looking for ways to help. If you have anything in mind, holla. 

Long time coming.

After nearly two years, I've finally manufactured a crankshaft for my treadle wheel.
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3am, still awake. . .

It's just after 3am and my mind seems like it's hooked up to a car battery.

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Went to bed 4 hours ago and took my art history book. After quite a few pages, I had to stop because my mind was wandering. A few minutes later I picked it back up and again I had to stop.

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I have to submit my term proposals for both Ceramics and Sculpture on Monday and I keep thinking about all the things I would like to accomplish. I was thinking I might get off easy in the Ceramics class because I'm taking it just for kicks, but Kowkie, my instructor is really challenging me. K has been around since I started school. She was the lab tech in the Ceramics studio during my first term. I ended up taking my work study hours in that studio, so we spent a fair amount of time together. I asked a lot of questions and she generally answered them without getting too annoyed. She is a very good potter, with a cool style and a firm grasp on the balance between good art and social commentary. Richard Notkin said once at a luncheon, "Don't count on the commentary to carry the piece. It won't." K seems to understand that. Her commentary is concise and the forms are comfortable and engaging. She has been a big influence on me. Now that she's teaching in this class, I get to see a different side of her. It's also very interesting to hear and see yet another point of view and process for doing the things we do with clay.

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Sculpture is pretty open ended this term, with the requirement that we have to present a term plan and cubic drawings of our proposals. A cubic drawing is a 6 sided drawing of an object. If you fold it into a cube, it should give you an idea of what a sculpture would look like from any side. This can be difficult to do. Sometimes my brain gets stuck on certain sides. The front is always the first thing I think of. At some point that should go away and it will seem more natural to think in terms of three dimensions all at once. That is my hope. I'm thinking about incorporating wood into one of my projects this term. I have some sketches that I've been working on. Now it's just a matter of planning and realizing them. The class is Sculpture/Welding, as in sculpting with steel. Emphasis on Sculpture, but also on Welding. . . Hard to weld wood.

The bad news and the new year

I am taking a ceramics class at PCC this term. I had to sign up for the beginner class, since it fit my schedule, which means no credit, but really I just want access to the kilns. I'm not sure what my focus will be this term. I was thinking about soda firing if the kiln is up and running. There were some problems with getting to temperature last winter. I feel like I should try to incorporate more of my sculptural ideas into my clay work, which is generally more functional in nature. It can be difficult to get out there in a beginning class setting. Experimental firings are hard to come by when you have to conform to certain rules set in place to facilitate safety and consistency. I've been inspired lately by the work of Brian Harper and Adam Welch. both of whom have a very rustic and aggressive style. The quality of their surfaces makes me weak in the knees.

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After a couple days of really feeling bad, I'm preparing to leave for the first day of winter term. I visited Boise for about a week and while it should have been a fun trip, it was a little lackluster. Tiffani contracted stomach flu and was throwing up every 45 minutes for about two whole days. When we got back, it was still cold in Portland. Rang in the New Year at the Gardiner's house which was nice. This weekend I had the good fortune to play music with my old friend Dan McClure and a Valiant Arms practice to boot. We were given a bed frame and treated to an art opening by none other than Diane Rios. Also showing at that same art opening was Noelle McClure. The show is a collection of old and new prints by two very talented printmakers. Following the opening we had dinner with friends and Tiffani drank a lot of wine.

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Unfortunately, while all of these wonderful things have been happening, I've been worrying about my Mother. She has cancer again. The doctors are trying to send her to Seattle for treatment, since it is essentially the place to go to beat cancer.

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I have a 17 year old sister who would be mostly alone if my Mom leaves town, so it's looking like we'll be inviting her into our home. We've been sorting out details and planning for getting her registered at the closest high school, finding bedroom furniture and preparing mentally for the addition of some major responsibility. I'm excited to have her here and think it's the best idea. Nobody should be forced to address having a sick mother without the support of siblings.

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The residue of my mother's recovery remains in the days before the new year while the ugly head of it's relapse stares into 2009. As a family we stare back at it with a violent disgust or a quiet resignation to win again. My mother's rage is evident in her voice as she tells me about absentminded doctors and the lack of a healthcare system that could save her life without crippling her financially. I'm not even sure what to say.

Jamie

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