2 steps forward one step back

Yesterday I realized that my plan for firing this doorway was not going to work as planned. I had loaded the whole kiln with only three posts per shelf. I hind sight this was a bad idea as the corners of the shelves without posts were not sturdy enough. So the whole things was unloaded and reloaded with double the posts. Each shelf now has 6 posts per shelf and is ready to fire. I has been candling since monday morning and will be fired slowly to cone ten tomorrow. If the day is dragging too long then I might only go to cone six. I'll play that by ear.

Last nigh the potters Guild of Hamilton and Region was treated to a presentation by Bruce Cochrane about his career and influences over his tenure as Head of the Ceramics Department at Sheridan College. Bruce is probably one of Canada's best potters. He has been making wonderfully designed and beautifully executed work for over 35 years. He has Retired as of this fall and is now exploring new found time and freedom in a shared studio space in Toronto. Good luck Bruce!

and so it all begins...

After a wonderful summer of friends, family, sun, cottages and not doing a whole lot other than having fun with my wife and son, it is time to work again. It also means time to think and write and grow. This fall I have the pleasure and fear of firing the wonderful doorway which Peter King made with us at the Hamilton Potters Guild workshop in July. It is made on a 1" thick slab of clay and weighed approximately 600 lbs wet! It is all cut into sections and has dried together for the whole summer untouched. It has been lightly sprayed wit a directional coat of rutile and yellow iron. I am now slowly loading it into the gas kiln to fire slowly over several days. I think it might take as many as 4 firings to do the whole thing.

I think my poor shelves will be sighing a big few when this is done. These pieces each weigh about 12 lbs.

This fall also means a busy time at the the new gallery. Allsorts has been coming along really well and we are all looking forward to the fall. The space is looking fantastic and is filling up with wonderful work.