pottery

Taking out the Trash

Sev Fowles, part-time Dixon resident and Columbia University professor, wanted to upgrade his septic tank on his Dixon Plaza property. The backhoe was called in and digging began. The mechanical digging was abrubtly halted however as it became clear that the ground was saturated with loads of good stuff.

Turns out, the parking lot used to be dumping grounds reaching back to at least the mid 1700s. Thousands of pot shards, animal bones, food bits and household items were turned up in a 3 ft by 10 ft hole. Take a look:

 

Raku Sisters

Raku is one of the most exciting firing techniques used in contemporary ceramics. It is interactive and spontaneous with results that inspire mystery and surprise. Do it with a few friends while the sun goes down and it becomes the life of the party! Unlike the understated wabi-sabi feel of traditional 16th century Japanese raku, western style raku can produce intense, iridescent hues and striking crackle finishes.

These are some of my miniature vases with a velvety matte finish:

 

Recently, I introduced raku to my friend's "little sister", Jade, here at my studio in Dixon.

Here's what we did...