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Ceramic Vessels by Nick Mason

THESE PIECES ARE ALL WHEEL-THROWN WHITE STONEWARE, SODA-FIRED WITH WASTE VEGETABLE OIL. THE VESSELS ARE ALTERED IN A WAY THAT IS MEANT TO EVOKE A SENSE OF ARRESTED MOTION OR CONTROLLED TENSION. AS THE KILN REACHES TEMPERATURE, SODA IS INTRODUCED. THE FLAME CARRIES THE SODA ACROSS THE EXAGGERATED CURVES OF THE WORK, HIGHLIGHTING THE FORM AND PROCESS OF CREATION.

Undulant Teabowl

Fired to cone 10 with vegetable oil fuel. 3" tall by 3" wide.

Small Undulant Bottle

Fired to Cone 9 with vegetable oil fuel. 6'' tall by 5" wide.

Undulant Vase #14

Fired with wood and vegetable oil to cone 9. 15" tall by 13" wide.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Baltimore, MD

The next few weeks will be very busy as we get ready for the American Craft Council Wholesale Show in Baltimore.
We pack up and head out February 19th.

Posted by Nick Mason at 1:09 PM No comments:

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Undulant Bottle #11

Twice-fired with vegetable oil to cone 11.

Mug

Fired to Cone 10 with vegetable oil fuel.

About Me

Nick Mason: FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, I HAVE CHOSEN TO EXPLORE THE IDEAS OF THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION AND STUDIO POTTERS. I ADMIRE THE APPALACHIAN WOOD AND COAL FIRING POTTERS THAT WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH KICK WHEELS AND HAND DUG CLAY. I AM ALSO INSPIRED BY THE FIRST TRUE ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST CERAMIC ARTISTS OF THE 50’S AND 60’S. WHETHER THEY WERE TRANSFORMING LAWNMOWERS INTO POTTER’S WHEELS OR TOASTERS INTO KILNS, THESE ARTISTS PUSHED CLAY TO NEW HEIGHTS AND HELPED COMMERCIALIZE THE EQUIPMENT WE USE TODAY. IN THIS SPIRIT, I HAVE CHOSEN TO FIRE MY WORK WITH SECOND HAND FUELS. MOST POTTERS TODAY USE PROPANE OR NATURAL GAS KILNS FOR THEIR HIGH-FIRE CERAMICS. MY KILN IS FUELED BY DEADFALL TREES, OLD PALLETS, AND USED VEGETABLE OIL. THE OIL COMES FROM A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND IT IS INTRODUCED INTO THE KILN’S ATMOSPHERE THROUGH A HOMEMADE BURNER. THE KILN IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF HEATING THE WORK PAST 2400 DEGREES. AT THAT TEMPERATURE, THE CLAY IS FULLY VITRIFIED AND THE OIL IS COMPLETELY BURNT WITH VERY LOW EMISSIONS. THIS IS A RATHER MESSY ENDEAVOR, BUT IT IS VERY REWARDING. THE TECHNIQUE YIELDS INTERESTING RESULTS AND A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE FROM “THE MAN”.

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Blog Archive

▼ 2010 (6)
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  - Baltimore, MD