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IN MEMORIAM
Our friend and fellow potter, Spencer Pentela passed away on August 23rd, 2011 after a long battle with cancer. Moving on to the next adventure. So many memories of this great man who truly lived life to the fullest and in the end channeled Frank Sinatra as he looked back on his life and sang: “I did it myyyyyy way!” Spencer really did. He disliked shoes, so he didn’t wear them. He fell in love with Rosa, so he married her. He loved to make pottery, so he became a potter. His life story is full of adventures, love, friendship and many surprises. Unique, wonderful Spencer with so many ideas, plans and projects, never afraid to try something new and bringing the rest of his family and friends with him in his pure enthusiasm. We love him and we miss him. Hugs and love to Rosa, David, Will, and Jordi.
Written by Nina Fernstrom Duong and Tea Duong
OPEN LETTER TO ALL
Dear Clayfolk folks,
Just a note of thanks from the new girl ! Your warm welcome, supportive comments and general good cheer during the Clayfolk show made me feel that I was a part of something wonderful - and you all are! Warm wishes to you from chilly Istanbul, where I'm checking out those crazy-good Iznik tiles - dude! Happy holidays, Cindra Vargas
HOT PROGRAM FOR MARCH MEETING
The March Clayfolk general meeting/potluck will be at Marylou Schnoes’ home, 5100 Lane Creek Road, Central Point on March 18th at 1:30. (Google maps will get you to the mailbox. Follow the red 5100 fire district signs to the house.)
Join other mad potters in watching their work go down in flames with a pit firing. Everyone who attends the meeting is invited to bring one or two (or more if they’re small) pieces of pottery ready to fire. Wood is always welcome, but not required. If you haven’t done a pit firing before, here (with thanks to the Hufts & Hannah Brehmer for their advice) are some tips for preparing your pottery :
1. Use cone 5 to10 stoneware or any body that responds well to heat shock (e.g., a clay suitable for raku). Be sure to label your piece(s) with your individual signature/mark.
2. Large, thick pieces have a tendency to crack. Pottery can be made using the wheel, slab, pinch or coil. To avoid breakage, pieces should have no or few appendages and rims shouldn’t be thin.
3. If you want your pottery to shine, when it is leather hard, rub a smooth stone, rubber rib or other smooth object. This pushes the grog under the surface of your piece.
4. When your pottery is bone dry, burnish it a second time. Smooth salad oil onto a 3 square-inch section of your pottery at a time. After it dries, it will look hazy. Rub a smooth stone, plastic bag or chamois over the pottery and it should develop a high shine.
5. Bisque fire your pottery at cone 010. If you bisque fire your pottery at too high a temperature, it will lose its shine when the grog resurfaces. Your pottery will still be fragile, so handle it carefully.
6. You can bring organic material to place over your pottery. Some people wrap pieces in straw, seaweed, fertilizer or other materials. You may also place copper wire on your pottery. The 1st weblink below has info on what colors various additives may produce. Wherever your pottery touches the sawdust on the bottom of the pit, it will turn black, so be sure to get it placed the way you want it. See the following for instructions on preparing your pit fired pottery :
http://www.claystation.com/technical/firing/pit_techniques/intro.html
http://vickihardin.com/articles/pit-fire-ceramics.html
http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/users/adams/Pottery/pit.html
For more advanced information on using Terra Sigillata and some great photos, see: http://www.robertcomptonpottery.com/Method%20of-Pit-Firing-Pottery.htm
Fired pieces can be picked up at Marylou’s house, or at the May meeting. If you let Marylou know, your work can be brought to the RCC Ceramics Studio at the rear of the Firehouse Art Center at 4th & H Streets in Grants Pass. Marylou Schnoes
FOR SALE : 4 Old Style Burners
Email me and I will send a picture and measurements or specs. Set up for propane. Previously used with natural gas. $100 or best offer Roxanne Hunnicutt 541 479 1349 Cell: 541 944 1349. Roxhun@gmail.com
Clayfolk Show and Sale
Pictures HERE
YOU MIGHT BE A POTTER IF.....
- You have funny dents in your face from wearing a respirator
- You buy the strangest, most useless things because of their texture
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eNEWSLETTER -
December - January 2012