Street Signs. (Revisited)

After a very productive three months of work in Europe (Denmark and Germany) Craig and I have been working in our studio in Mexico; It is a small space but sufficient for the two of us. We currently have two electric kilns and a sagar kiln on the way.

Printing supplies.

Tools.

Selection of brushes.

Homemade photo setup.

I am still very much taken by the toner print technique which has given me some very satisfying results.. The possibilities keep opening and every day is a new turn as I keep focusing on layered images and symbols. I work with photographs made in my daily life and  turn them into patterns.

Part of my inspiration lies on street signs that I spot in my visits to the American Midwest. I am sure that one part of my attraction towards them is their absence in Mexico. The other has to do with my sometimes intense attention to words. And coincidentally it is the church signs the ones that are more compelling. These two paths will likely merge as there is a common thread between them.

 As you may have already figured out this is a process post and soon I will update with some results to all this research.

Woodfire extravaganza

When the opportunity presents itself I like to experiment with wood firing. It's true that I don't usually turn to a wood kiln for my work but every now and again I put a couple of pieces in and experiment a little.

I find the whole process vastly interesting, the movement of the fire and the air; the effects of the ashes and flames. I am drawn to the "crustier" results, when the pieces are more in contact with the burning wood.

Here are some examples of what I had in a recent 5 day anagama firing, I press molded some of the pieces I have been using for printing.

Image on clay

For the months of April and May Craig Hartenberger and I did a residency at Guldagergaard, International Ceramic Research Center in Denmark, where we both had the opportunity of working on some projects already started.

I continued my work with toner print on clay. The results leave me very pleased and excited with future possibilities. All the imagery comes from photographs taken during our travels; moments made into patterns, layers of memory that become the wallpaper of our minds.

Tools and print ready to use.

Two Standing Chairs

The "Chair Project" is finally standing after a few changes and setbacks proper of working with ceramics, porcelain in particular. Because in case I have not mention this before, the sculpture is made mostly in porcelain with a few accents in black stoneware. The installation took two days and the piece is located in the front part of Guldagergaard, Ceramics Research Center, in between the main house and the studio building.

It has certainly been a learning experience on ceramics in public spaces, porcelain and instalation. Ceramics in general. And it is very good to see the sculpture in its place.

Looking for the right place

Placing the iron rods that anchor the chairs to the ground.

Starting with the bottom legs

Half way there

Continuing Projects

All April and May Craig and I will be at the International Ceramic Research Center, Guladagergaard, in Denmark. We are here to continue some of the projects we started last year when we visited the center for a six week residency.

In the first part of our stay we will be focusing in more personal projects like the "Chair Sculpture" which is now all completed and ready to be installed in the center's grounds. I am also working on some pieces inspired in what I have been working since the fall, hand built sculptures and surfaces richer in texture. Here I am mixing china porcelain with a black stoneware that I plan to woodfire. I have also applied some colored porcelain slip. Some of the ideas for this pieces came from folding paper and paper patters.

The second part of our stay will be dedicated to make a Fire Sculpture with Nina Hole for the sculpture park here in Guldagergaard.

Working at Missouri State University

From March 10 to 21, Craig Hartenberger and I did a short term residency in the ceramic studio at Missouri State University.

I continued with some of the ideas started in the fall of last year. Terracotta and withe slip electric fired to cone 1. Hand built sculptures reoriented after firing.

This time one of the sculptures was sagar fired with some interesting surface results.