Kickstarter

  First project I will start with will concentrate on working with traditional Japanese glazing, one being Oribe, and the other is Shino. Oribe involves the use of a green copper based glaze on work that is painted with calligraphic drawing using landscape imagery.  Shino is a generic term for a family of glazes.  The glaze tends to range in color from milky white to a light orange, sometimes with charcoal gray spotting, known as "carbon trap" which is the trapping of carbon in the glaze during the firing process. This work will be made to be fired in a Japanese style Raku kiln.

  Next I will make work to be fired specifically in an anagama kiln, by either handbuilding, throwing, or a combination of both. I will also incorporate the use of traditional Japanese Gosu, on porcelain.  Gosu is a special underglaze cobalt blue method of altering surface with drawing.  The anagama kiln is an ancient type of kiln brought to Japan from China via Korea in the 5th century which consists of a firing chamber with a firebox at one end and a flue at the other.

  Last I will work with a specific clay for which Tokoname is famous for called SHUDEI.  It is a bright red clay that is usually used for small Tokoname style teapots.  Originally it was salvaged from the bottom of local rice paddies, but is now produced by a local clay company.  I will also be visiting the factory to see the process.

  At the end of the four week wet work period, I will fire kilns beginning with the anagama kiln.  This will be followed by firing a series of bisque kilns, and then glaze kilns with each of the four methods. This will culminate with an exhibition in the Kyouei-Gama Gallery within the confines of a large centenary arch kiln originally used to fire the factory’s sewer pipe production.