smitten

drawing

2011-09-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

this post marks a return to drawing as a daily commitment. The starting point is paper as figure and ground. This piece is cut chipboard - a pad backing - and drafting vellum.

SF/Berkeley

2011-08-14T15:51:00.000-07:00

I've been spending the summer in Berkeley, CA. teaching, making work, being part of the Cafe Gratitude community and exploring neighborhoods. Connecting with artists and communities here is inspiring me to spend more time here. Oakland has many co-operative houses and studios. Permaculture practice is permeating the yards. I'm smitten with the notion of living in urban self-sustaining community.
The Sculpture class I taught at UC Berkeley ASUC ceramic studio is now over. Thank you all for making the experience very positive. For our end of session last hurrah, yesterday we field tripped it over to SF to gallery hop. Spent most of our time at 49 Geary Street. Favorite pic was Yashitomo Saito 1000 prayers at Haines Gallery.
What was it that made this show the pic of the day? Nature centric, the forms were fashioned from roots and twigs, and appeared to be wood with a waxy coating. Satisfyingly simple. It was surprising to discover that the forms were all cast bronze using the lost wax technique. Forms were made in units no larger than 18", then welded together. Saito has created a lyrical body of abstract works that feel as though they've emerged fully formed out of the earth.

its a new year

2011-02-01T19:33:00.000-08:00

Lunar New Year is approaching, my time for renewal. With this new year I'm posting news of last year's developments.
Summer was spent in Berkeley, creating a sculpture at the Ceramics studio.

Thats 48 states, floating precariously; pillows of porcelain hung on transparent line. The states are painted in map colors on the front.

The backs are painted black.
Overhead is a trough of hay. Some of the hay has fallen through the states onto the gallery floor. The hay references America as bread basket.
Driving across country from New Jersey to California, reflections on America filled my brain. Concerns about the environment, corproratization of our government and a psychic disconnect affecting masses of my fellow citizens swirled in me.
This work is up at Rupert Ravens Contemporary, 85 Market Street, Newark, NJ through February 2011.

up on the roof

2010-06-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

Mike and Doug Starn are building a strange and wonderful organic pathway that upon first glance looks disordered and chaotic. Walk through it and pathways emerge and people walking on them. Be sure to pick up official tour tickets and wear closed shoes if you dare to walk into it!

"Invited by The Metropolitan Museum of Art to create a site-specific installation for The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden, the twin brothers Mike and Doug Starn (born in New Jersey in 1961) present their new work, Big Bambú: You Can't, You Don't, and You Won't Stop. The monumental bamboo structure, ultimately measuring 100 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 50 feet high, takes the form of a cresting wave that bridges realms of sculpture, architecture, and performance. Visitors witness the continuing creation and evolving incarnations of Big Bambú as it is constructed throughout the spring, summer, and fall by the artists and a team of rock climbers. Set against Central Park and its urban backdrop, Big Bambú suggests the complexity and energy of an ever-changing living organism."
http://www.metmuseum.org/special/se_event.asp?OccurrenceId={9C6923D2-D348-4761-BEB3-A943934068D2}&HomePageLink=special_c3a

long overdue

2010-04-17T20:19:00.000-07:00

Ken Price has his day.
Hats off to you Mr. Price!

mal-o-mar snow pies

2010-02-09T21:30:00.000-08:00

post 2010 blizzard view of
Eight Wedges
aka
mal-o-mars
cast concrete sculpture
2004
installed in a private garden in Delaware.

Newark!

2009-12-13T19:13:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I visited two galleries in Newark - Index, a new entity, a reincarnation of Redsaw, living in almost the same space. And Aljira, on the last day of the Jordan Eagles show. The work is beautiful, and beautifully installed. For images of the installation, click here. Newark is changing.. new stores, restaurants, galleries.
Thanks for the tour Andre.

Miami

2009-12-02T11:40:00.000-08:00

flame chiffon
majolica 2009
12" x 12" x 4"

ART VICEROY is an independently curated special exhibition, open to the public during the week of Art Basel Miami Beach.

DATES: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2
TO
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6

TIMES: WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY
11AM - 8PM
SUNDAY 11AM - 6PM

ArtViceroy Miami

2009-11-22T09:31:00.000-08:00

ArtViceroy Miami
Rupert Ravens Contemporary will be participating in the upcoming ArtViceroy Miami, a satellite of the Basel Art Fair/ Miami.
Here are some images of my new pieces that will be part of his show...

new work

2009-11-08T17:10:00.001-08:00

Four of thirteen wall reliefs on exhibit now through January 18, 2010, at Rupert Ravens Contemporary, Newark NJ.

Barbara Kruger at Lever House

2009-11-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

Wow, Barbara Kruger nails this space!
Her text installation lines the interior and exterior of Lever House's lobby gallery, making the usually transparent glass lobby into a claustrophobic rant on our capitalistic culture.

We Come with the Beautiful Things

2009-07-31T08:51:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended the opening for Expanding the Walls: Making Connections between Photography, History and Community, an annual, seven-month, photography-based program that uses the James VanDerZee (1886–1983) archive—housed at The Studio Museum in Harlem—as a springboard for conversation and art-making. (click here to learn more)
Twelve young artists, one of whom was my student, have created intense and beautiful work now on exhibit. Using James VanDerZee as a point of departure, each student has pursued their own creative inquiry in black and white photography.

some red tape

2009-07-27T20:28:00.000-07:00

hand casting continues with daughter Mimi's lovely hands.

casting continues

2009-07-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

It's the summer of casting hands. Weather has been incredibly cooperative as we sit in the garden with hands submerged in plaster. Here Bill Westheimer is sitting patiently talking about the 3-d digitally generated clear plexi hands spinning out of his studio.

casting call

2009-07-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

Summer invites clay work in the garden studio. This season I'm casting 100 sets of hands in preparation for a late summer wood firing.
Pictured here is a fresh pressed stoneware cast of painter/photographer Anthony Cuneo's hands. If you can lend a hand or two, give me a ring and come on over for casting. The process takes an hour or two.
I'm in Montclair, NJ
917.365.1339

summer restack

2009-07-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

Friend and fellow townie, Sharon Gill, enjoys the conversations Stacked 101 generates in front of her house. And when the stack fell last winter, after many years of life, conversations turned to conjecture over what would become of the piece. Sharon’s neighbors now have something more to talk about as I have restacked the sculpture, in reverse, to give it a new view.

new suburban landscape

2009-02-25T18:48:00.001-08:00

Yale, 2.29.09
Stefanie Nagorka

Worlds Away: New Suburban Landscape
March 2, 2009 - May 10 2009
Yale School of Architecture
Randolph Hall
180 York Street, New Haven, CT

This group show originated at the Walker Center and is making it's third stop at Yale.
Hand injury left me of sound mind but not hand. Installation of stacked block piece took place mid-day, with the excellent help of installer Alison Welsh.

storm watching

2009-02-18T04:39:00.000-08:00

Curated by Amy Lipton, Joy Episalla and Joy Garnett
http://outoftheblueproject.org
an exhibition featuring artwork inspired by weather, geological and atmospheric conditions opened yesterday at Bergen College, NJ. Click here for more info and images.

marlene dumas is over but

2009-02-17T08:14:00.000-08:00

you can see images of her smart wonderful work and listen to her talking about her work
by clicking here.

The Third Mind; a day of contemplation

2009-02-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia, 1860–1989, at the Guggenheim through April 19, has an interesting curatorial premise.

"This exhibition traces how Asian art, literature, and philosophy were transmitted and transformed within American cultural and intellectual currents, influencing the articulation of new visual and conceptual languages. It explores how American art evolved through a process of appropriation and integration of Asian sources that developed from the 1860s through the 1980s, when globalization came to eclipse earlier, more deliberate modes of cultural transmission and reception. While Europe has long been recognized as the font of mainstream American art movements, the exhibition explores an alternative lineage of creative culture that is aligned with America's Pacific vista—Asia."( Guggenheim overview statement)

I found this big show exhausting but ultimately rewarding. Particularly enjoyed Ann Hamilton's human carriage, John Cage's drawings, Mark Toby's gouache paintings, Mary Cassatt's prints captured me with their lyrical passages of color and pattern and Georgia O'Keefe's intensely colored watercolors felt of the moment.
I happened into an exhibition of the new Hugo Boss prize winner
Emily Jacir. This exhibition is an engrossing poetic broken narrative that ... " brings together, for the first time, two installations that address the October 1972 assassination of Palestinian intellectual Wael Zuaiter in Rome by Israeli secret service agents"

view from the 7th floor

2008-12-02T16:36:00.000-08:00

Today was given to a drive up to New Haven to meet with Dean Sakamoto, curator of the Yale Architecture Gallery. The group show New Suburban Landscape, curated by Andrew Blauvelt (Walker Center) and Tracy Meyers (Carnegie Art Museum) that originated at the Walker and is now at the Carneigie, and is traveling up to Yale in March.
Blue skies dominated throughout the day with some cloud action. Downtown New Haven is sweet with Yale buildings by Rudolph and Kahn... The refreshing view from the 7th floor of the architecture building became magical as Christ Church chimed Christmas carols on the hour.

barrel 'o fun

2008-11-29T19:17:00.000-08:00

What a perfect day for a barrel firing! Spent the day with Jane Craven who had invited me to fire with her & crew. Horse manure and pine needles in hand I showed up at 10 AM. First we prepped pots by wrapping them in metals and natural materials to produce interesting surface effects. By 11:15 we were outside, and spent the next five hours firing. This was a first for me and I enjoyed it immensely! Leaves, pine needles and corn husks thrown onto the work at the end resulted in heavy reduction and beautiful smoky effects. Pulling pots out at the end, we wrapped some with horsehair which sizzled and burned in beautiful black curly lines.

finishing up

2008-11-23T19:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday at Tony Moore's Kiln started early with a warm hello from Dan Greenfield. He's solo on the night shift for the entire four day firing. I arrived at 7:30AM and shortly after Tony appeared. Then Flo and Heather. Temps were holding just below 2200. We pushed them over 2300 and then shut the kiln down.

tony day

2008-11-16T07:27:00.000-08:00

Saturday was day one loading for Tony Moore's autmnal anagama firing. I picked up designer and potter Paul Boucher on 92nd St. W and we headed up to Cold Spring in rolling blankets of fog with boxes of clay works in tow. Rain came on and off, and as the day wore on patches of blue opened up the sky. Spent good time with friend Jane Craven, sculptor and potter, stacking thousands of her tiny thrown vessels. She's invited me to do a pit aka barrel firing with her in the next two weeks.

Loading at Tony's continues today (without me !). The firing happens this week. I'll be stoking on Saturday, the last of the four days. Two week cool down period, then unloading on December 6th. Tony's high standards and careful attention to all aspects of the firing process results in consistently excellent product.

Boson Exotic

2008-11-06T07:49:00.001-08:00

Rupert Ravens has curated yet another blockbuster show in his immense (purported to be the largest commercial gallery under one roof in this country) gallery in the heart of Newark.

"As protean transporters of invisible force, "Boson Exotic" artworks radiate phenomenological complexity. Each work becomes a saturated moment. The often arcane beauty of the exotic here trumps the arid, banal one liners prevailing in much current contemporary art.
The elusive boson particles are theoretically poised for unveiling in the largest machine ever constructed. Likewise the hard to pin down work in this exhibition, beckons discovery within a 20,000 sq ft phenomenon. In fact, acceleration of assertion posits Newark in a new art vangard."

photo by Frances Pelzman Liscio
For an excellent preview of works, check out photographer Frances Pelzman Liscio's posted slide show on Baristanet.

I still hear people talking fear about being in Newark. Hey, since mayor Corey Booker has arrived on the scene, the city has been going through a true renaissance. He has made priorities of safety and cultural growth , and you can feel the effects of his work when walking from Penn Station (path train) to the gallery at 85 Market Street. Parking is easy -- in the evening there are always spots right in front of the gallery. So venture down and check it out, it's worth the trip!

valued

2008-10-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

image by Frances Pelzman Liscio
image by Frances Pelzman Liscio

Rupert Ravens Contemporary opened yesterday with a group show entitled BOSON EXOTIC. This is a happening place -- 30,000 sq ft of space filled with art from NYC metro area.
This show marks my debut exhibiting work in clay. Entitled "Valued", the piece consists of 100 terra cotta casts of trash, glazed and gilded to mimic porcelain. One cast hangs on the wall, referencing value assumed when we view art on a wall. Eight feet away from the wall 99 casts are piled up on the floor referencing a trash heap. The work asks: What has value? When do we assign value and why? When is value lost? Viewing the pile of casts, familiar forms emerge of oft seen objects, packaging and discards such as egg cartons, carry-out containers, newspapers, candy trays and more. Discards all, they've become porcelain imitators, eye candy, not willing to go gently into the night.

battered and cracked

2008-09-03T20:14:00.000-07:00

This piece was loaded into the front of the firebox. It's one of my favorites from this firing. It was constructed with a press mold, out of dark stoneware. Cracks and ash enhance and enrich this pyramidal form.

splendor in the grass

2008-09-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

The kiln was unloaded in the reverse order to which it was loaded. The work is laid out on the hill beside the kiln so that all can see the range of effects that occured in various parts of the kiln.

August 12th

2008-09-03T20:09:00.000-07:00

A first look at the battered work in the front of the kiln. This image doesn't show off the rich color that much of the work sported.

firestorm

2008-08-16T12:58:00.000-07:00

Firing began on Friday evening August 9th and continued around the clock for five days. Heat built up gradually in the firebox. This image was taken on the second day of firing, temperatures were rising quickly over 1000 F. . Work can be seen behind flames, in the back of the firebox.
Its the fourth day. Bruce Dehnert, Director of Ceramics at Peters Valley, stirs the coals to promote even burning and help raise temperature. Temps were over 2200, on the way to 2350 F. 3 teams worked 6 hour shifts with 12 hour breaks. By the end of the firing cycle we were all pretty ragged out.
8' foxtail plume of flame rages out of kiln chimney on the last day of the firing. Temperature was reached at 7PM, and then the kiln was sealed. After five days of cooling the Kiln opening happens Sunday August 17th. Stay tuned for images of the opening and the fired work.

anamania4: before the fire

2008-08-15T10:28:00.001-07:00

Loading took place over two days, August 8th and 9th. Mouth wide open the belly of the beast contains 1000+ objects. Firing commenced Friday evening, August 9th. Alison, studio assistant at Peters Valley, painted the Norwegian flag on the door hanging over the dragon's eyes in honor of our esteemed visiting artist, Torbjörn Kvasbø.

anamania3

2008-08-08T07:08:00.000-07:00

Torbjörn Kvasbø looks into the anagama at Peter's Valley. The firing begins today, August 8, 2008. Nine people will be working in shifts, stoking round the clock for five days. Torbjörn is a specialist in woodfirings, and has worked with kilns from Norway to Canada, the US, China, Australia and more. He is legendary for his aggressive approach to firing.

anamania2

2008-08-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

Bruce Dehnert, director of Ceramics at Peter's Valley, holds a tablet created in 1980 to commemorate the first firing of the PV Anagama kiln and signed by luminaries in the field who were part of the first firing, including the legendary Peter Voulkos.

anamania

2008-08-08T06:57:00.000-07:00

I've been working at Peters Valley for a week with ceramic artist Torbjörn Kvasbø. Torbjörn is this year’s lead artist for PV’s anagama firing. Torbjörn is an amazing sculptor/philosopher with impeccable credentials. I hereby proclaim him a national treasure of Norway and consider myself fortunate to be working with him.

Press

2008-07-29T06:02:00.000-07:00

An articulate review of the New Suburban Landscape at the Walker Center by Fred De Sam Lazaro was aired on PBS The News Hour with Jim Lerher, Thursday July 24th 2008.

A clip with reference to my work:

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Other artists have thrived alongside, or inside, the successful big box stores, where the displays include the candid photographs of Brian Ulrich and the sculptures of Stefanie Nagorka in the aisles of Home Depot.

TRACY MYERS: Initially, it was sort of guerilla art. She would kind of go in and build these things without permission. Then she started photographing them.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: These sculptures are now acclaimed after their humble beginnings.

To read the entire article click here

stairway to heaven

2008-06-22T20:30:00.000-07:00

Alice Aycock's Stairs (These Stairs Can Be Climbed)(which I did), 1974/2008
is part of a rockin show at the Sculpture Center in LIC, NY. In the middle of today's sudden rainstorm I ran over to catch Decoys, Complexes, and Triggers: Feminism and Land Art in the 1970s. Its worth the trip.

worlds away

2008-06-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

Bloomberg tv news has run a piece on the Walker Art Center's group show "Worlds Away". Action shots of me building this sculpture, as well as interview footage are featured.

bisque bust

2008-06-09T21:57:00.000-07:00

Several pieces broke in the weekend bisque firing. Made more and hope to have them ready for the loading at Cold Spring this Saturday. Practical commitments have eaten into prep time. I'm looking forward to increased summer production time.

meditations on form

2008-05-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

Here is the first of bisqued pieces for the June firing at Tony Moore. Moving into sculptural forms: mediations on Brancusi, platonic solids and bricks.

2008-04-23T13:21:00.000-07:00

Altered porcelain vessel(4.08.03) was dipped in slip. Carbon trapping abounds on this surface; slip was wiped off bottom portion, resulting in beautiful coloration.

more from Moore's kiln

2008-04-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

The beauty of woodfiring: fire blasting this porcelain vase (4.08.02) produces a matt finish on one side, contrasting with the high gloss on the other. Warm colors come from the slip applied before firing. Carbon trap markings further enrich the surface.

altered amphora

2008-04-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

I've been working on developing ways of swelling classic shapes. This stoneware amphora(4.04.01) is one of ten that I made for Tony Moore's April wood firing in Cold Spring, NY.

aftermath

2008-04-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

Word has it this was one of Tony Moore's most successful firings to date. Unloading happened on Wednesday April 16. I missed it, arriving Saturday to pic up work. And oh, what a day it was. Sun shining, temps hitting 70's. And the black flies were out in droves. Many were present grinding glaze off shelves in preparation for upcoming June firing.

waiting game

2008-04-02T13:28:00.001-07:00

Temps are rising in Tony Moore's kiln in Cold Spring NY. Firing will be finished within the next day. Then it's cool down time. Kiln unloading happens April 13th.

reconfiguring brick city

2008-03-30T11:43:00.001-07:00

Reconfiguring Brick City
Terra-cotta, cardboard
10" x 11" x 18" 2008
Newark, also called brick city, is exploding with art and new culture venues. Rupert Ravens Contemporary, 85 Market Street, opened last fall, bringing museum quality shows to the largest exhibition space in the region. This piece will be included in a show at NNPAC celebrating the Newark Arts Council.

spring awakening

2008-03-30T11:32:00.001-07:00

After a long winters break, the woodfiring season is back.
Here are some pots on the table getting measured for a firing at Tony Moore's kiln in Cold Spring, NY. Drove up yesterday to deliver some ten pots. My mind and hands have been on other work this winter. Sculpture work trumped potmaking.

time passes

2007-12-09T19:46:00.000-08:00

Carbon Trap firing with Sue was not a success. I hear some pieces came through with interesting surfaces, many didn't. Technical issues made for great difficulty. Looking forward to seeing the work... and posting some images soon.

cold spring unloading

2007-11-18T16:09:00.000-08:00

Woke up to a few snow flakes mixed with rain, and then the sky cleared for a fine cold fall day's unloading in Cold Spring. Tony Moore's kiln held a large amount of work... many fine pieces emerged this morning. I'm on a big learning curve, and discovered more about clay bodies and how they act in wood firing. Heard several people recommend Sheffield T-1 stoneware for wood firing due to it's tendency to produce excellent comet trails when hit by flame. Dan G. recommends Archie Bray porcelain -- and with it he's achieved beautiful color on all of his pieces.

irrational profusion

2007-11-17T18:25:00.000-08:00

This excellent group show is well worth the trip...

P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center presents Irrational Profusion: Nicole Cherubini, Marc Leuthold, Joyce Robins, and Peter Schlesinger. The works of these four artists produce a diverse contemporary dialogue on the traditional medium of clay. Through their incorporation of unconventional materials including rabbit fur, gold chains, and paint, as well as their references to painting, drawing, and sculpture, these artists share an interest in pushing the boundaries of and contributing to the medium’s possibilities .This group exhibition is on view in the First Floor Drawing Gallery from September 28 through January 14, 2008.
Irrational Profusion
On view September 28 through January 14, 2008

cold spring firing

2007-11-15T19:48:00.000-08:00

Had a marvelous experience firing with Tony Moore and crew in Cold Spring last week. Tony's kiln is beautifully designed -- efficient, large yet compact. Enjoyed stoking with old and new friends. My circle is expanding as I meet more folk who are into wood firing. I forgot my camera, this shot of Bill taken with my phone. Unloading coming up this Sunday. I will remember my camera!

one more day

2007-11-06T13:23:00.000-08:00

Firing begins at Tony Moore's anagama/noburigama kiln tomorrow! I'm eager to experience the kiln -- how will it differ from the Anagama at Peter's Valley? This and more to come in few days, including pics of the kiln on fire.

back to fire

2007-11-04T16:07:00.000-08:00

6 AM up and early drive to arrive 9 AM to a beautiful windy and chilly fall day at Tony Moore's kiln in upstate NY. Met many new people during the loading. Was glad to see old friends Sue and Paul and Jane from past firings at Peter's Valley and Sue Kotulak's gas kiln.
Tony packed the first chamber tight and clean. I smiled to see that my work - including a first teapot, tea cups, bowls and vases - showed evidence of increased skill. The sun began to set and I had to leave. The loading wasn't yet complete and may spill over into tomorrow. I forgot my camera but a few friends promised shots, and when they arrive will post them here. Will drive back up this Wednesday to be part of the four day firing.
Anticipation growing.

Sanctuary

2007-10-27T12:37:00.001-07:00

Rupert Ravens Contemporary gallery opened last night in Newark, NJ, with a spectacular group show entitled Sanctuary. My piece, Energizer, is installed in front of the second floor window. This detail shot (thank you Carl Hazelwood for the image!) offers a feel of the sculpture at night. Spotlights focused on the work generate a blue cast, and it reflects light and colors from passing traffic. I'm delighted to be surrounded by the likes of Agnes Denes and Vija Celmins. With 30,000 sq. ft of exhibition space, Rupert Ravens Contemporary is the largest commercial gallery in New Jersey.

work in progress

2007-10-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a peek at a sculpture in progress. No, it's not part of my current ceramics obsession, and it is part of an ongoing series of sculptural installations engaging light with monofilament in space. I promise this piece will be completed this week as it's part of the opening show at
Rupert Ravens Contemporary gallery 85 Market Street in Newark, opening this Friday, October 26th 6-10PM. There's going to be some serious partying going on starting with Shabazz HS drum corps on the sidewalk at 6, R&B group lil bastad and more will perform in the gallery.

prep days

2007-10-14T06:45:00.001-07:00

Tony Moore's wood firing is three weeks away, and Sue Kotulak will be doing a carbon trap firing in her excellent gas kiln soon. In preparation, I'm steadily producing work. Mostly I'm making tea cups, bowls and vases. Using the ceramics studio at the day job, I'm able to make an average of three vessels daily. The electric kiln at work has a glitch and the hold function isn't working, so ample time is needed for air drying before bisque. A friend gifted me a small electric kiln last year. Its a basic model, no automatic timing here, but it will be fantastic to have the option to bisque work in my own studio -- time to have a heavy duty electrical outlet installed so that I can run it. This weekend my daughter, who is studying at SVA and living in Brooklyn, came home for a visit. We went into the studio and threw pots together - what a delight! I'm planing on including her work in the wood firing.

fire bitten

2007-10-10T19:22:00.001-07:00

This pot, from my current work exploring volume and fullness, came out of the PV anagama firing... porcelain with helmer slip, approx six inches tall by seven inches wide.

more anagama images

2007-10-07T08:23:00.000-07:00

pics arriving in waves this week ... here from ariel, some great shots of the anagama firing.

the mighty Quinn

2007-10-07T07:52:00.000-07:00

Quinn Kimball -- Pianist, Singer, Conductor and anagama firing freak has sent a link to his super videos of the Peters Valley August 2007 firing on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/mightyquincy109
Thanks for sending the CD with images Quinn!

gavin's excellent pics

2007-10-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

Gavin Noyes ceramic artist, assistant at the August PV anagama firing and pizza visionary, has sent a link to images from the firing. Check them out at

http://web.mac.com/gavnoyes/Gavins_Photos/Photos.html

Gavin writes:

"I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know everyone and experiencing the firing of this great kiln. Highlights for me included: swimming in the Delaware River, eating all the fresh fruit and veges from the farm stands, learning how differently this kiln fires, seeing the wild turkeys, enjoying all the great scenery at Peters Valley, playing the craziest game of HORSE imaginable, ping pong, watching over a thousand pieces go into a single kiln, and finally seeing the excitement on everyone's faces as greeted the results of all our hard work."

"Since returning to Utah I've been busy getting ready for a November firing..."

wood firing coming up

2007-10-02T19:05:00.001-07:00

I'm discovering that the world of potters and ceramic artists doing wood firings is fairly close knit. Sue Kotulak received word that sculptor Tony Moore, who has a Noborigama/Anagama kiln is doing a wood firing in early November. I'm just back from helping stack wood in preparation. Yikes, this is exciting... another wood firing !

gas firing with kotulak

2007-10-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

Sue Kotulak invited me up to bring some work for her gas firing Friday, re-fires allowed. It was a clear cool fall afternoon and the landscape on the drive up was beautiful. So I brought up a few pieces that had awkward ash left from the last wood fire. After a warm welcome from Sue we set about loading my pots. Then Paul Boucher arrived and we completed the loading and fired up the kiln. Temps had to stay low as many pots had been outside and needed to dry slowly. We talked over wine and dinner. The strategy for the firing was discussed and we settled in for a long nite. I lasted till just before 3 AM. Sue and Paul staggered their rest periods as they kept watch over climbing kiln temp. At 7 AM I was up, and excitied to see the firing was well under way. Paul had to take off at Noon. I was happy to be able to stay till 5. Sue led us on a walkabout of the property. And then she taught me to use her new hydraulic extruder -- wow, that is a cool tool! The end of the visit came all too soon. Many thanks Sue for a wonderful experience!

inside after the fire

2007-09-30T19:43:00.001-07:00

fire!

2007-09-27T17:34:00.001-07:00

August 2007 Peters Valley, NJ. Four day firing begins.

John Dix stirs embers

I'm stokin'

late work hours leads to ... but seriously, bandanas, sunglasses and hats required attire for feeding the fire

Loading the anagama kiln

2007-09-26T18:41:00.001-07:00

1000 objects were loaded over two days.

2007-09-25T18:30:00.001-07:00

Our fearless leader at Peters Valley August 2007, John Dix, master potter from Japan, working in the Bizen tradion.

sore muscles testify to the week's work

2007-09-23T19:31:00.002-07:00

Work made the week before the firing, drying in the sun. Missing is a photo of the big black bear crossing the road a mile from the kiln... we were in a car and um, quite relieved to not be on foot!

Anagamaland

2007-09-22T19:40:00.001-07:00

This summer I was introduced to wood firing at Peters Valley in Layton, NJ. Now I find myself smitten by the fire bug. With yearning and joy I recollect this first experience with fire:

John Dix, master ceramic artist living in Japan and working in it’s ancient clay tradition, was resident artist. He spent a week demonstrating traditional and innovative approaches to making vessels, and a second week managing the anagama firing. Many thanks to Bruce Dehnert, director of the ceramics program at PV for all the amazing prep and support. Studio assistants Danny Crumb and Cori Beardsley, and Charles Lid, ceramics instructor in New Brunswick, NJ, did a lot of the grunt work in kiln prep, and all twelve participants pitched in loading and stacking over a thousand pieces of work. Finally we worked in teams round the clock, stoking the kiln every 10 - 15 minutes. Temperatures grew -- it was fascinating to witness the fire's life growing as the temps peaked, stall out and then begin climbing again. By the end of the fourth day temperature was in excess of 2300 degrees. It would take five days for the kiln to cool down enough to unload and see how the firing turned out. And we were delerious with anticipation. Finally the day came for unloading