Visions Highlights: Yoko Sekino-Bové

I've been claiming all weekend that there are only 4 "pots" in this whole show. Studio Artist Yoko Sekino-Bové made 3 of those 4, but now that I'm taking a minute to review the show, I'm revising my previous statement back to shrugs. There are quite a few works that were most likely thrown and altered, but nothing quite like Yoko's work...

The above piece took 3rd in the "Visions in Clay". Honestly though, any of her submissions were contenders for the top 3 slots in the show. All of Yoko's work was a pleasure to explore as I unpacked them... very fine and very delicate, (great job packing by the way Yoko... nice attention to detail.)

This last piece is my favorite out of all of the works that Yoko offered for the show. Everything that she submitted are amazing examples of craftsmanship, beautifully thrown and trimmed... and best of all, she creates amazing surface details that Bruce and I are enjoying simply sitting back and just guessing at how she created. It speaks deeply that the juror Arthur Gonzalez choose all 3 of Yoko's submissions.  Personally I'm jazzed that a few of the McKnight Fellowships for Ceramic Arts awarded by Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis are making a show of it in this exhibition.

Like all of the works in this show, everything needs to be seen to be appreciated, but to handle work of this caliber is an experiance...

Cheers Yoko!

Meet my New Little Friend

A 17 cubic foot updraft gas kiln less than 100 yards from the studio's backdoor.

Steve Pate is letting me rent out this beauty to make a quick foray back into cone 10 reduction to add to this falls collection. 

Very cool! 

I initially started out as a gas burner at Arizona State University and reluctantly made the switch to electric 4 years ago. That change over made me realize that as I developed my sense of form and craftsmanship, I had to give special attention to developing my surfaces.

As my 7 year old says when we sit around talking about these things... Duh...

Well, ever since last springs 09 soda firing with Matt Brown, I've been chomping at the bit to get to try putting my surfaces back through atmospherics kilns. Time to revisit a first love... so here we go...

Foam Printing Results

A quick look at the results from the foam printing test a few weeks ago.
This definitely has possibilities...

SharkSkin White

Maybe it's the way I work, but I'm starting to think that a disproportionate amount of the new surfaces that pop-up in the studio are the results of accidents rather than planned tests... honestly, everything that goes through my kilns are tests, but some things really do surprise me and this is one of them.

It's a simple electric cone 6  EggShell White recipe that I've used on and off for a few years now, the only difference is that it's been fired to a flat cone 4 and the result is rather extreme. At cone 4, this glaze is very much a texture bomb. It feels like shark skin... As long the is lip is functionally glazed, this is a fantastic surface for the hand to enjoy.

I'll post the recipe when I can actually once again fire this mix to the intended temp. Until then I think I'll personally test this for a week or two.

Vision Highlights: Hunter Stamps

 "The Space Between" 

2009

27" x 19" x 18"

glazed ceramic

"Metamorphosis"

2009

17" x 27" x 17"

glazed ceramic

 Once again, heaping servings of both form and texture. The pictures don't do Hunter Stamps work justice. These pieces draw a person in in a big way. All three of his works were selected and I'm very glad they were, I've been watching people wander in while we've been setting up and they inevitably drift towards "Metamorphosis" stopping to orbit the work like a captured new moon. 

The piece below is the work that captured second place...

   

Congratulations and Great Work!

 "Naked Lunch"  

2009

26" x 16" x 18"

glazed ceramic

You can see more of Hunter Stamps work at his website.