Throwing Away

I've started throwing today - a large batch of small globes for use Raku Firing during the Upwey Potters show which starts in a month's time and also for the Dorset Art Fair at Kingston Maurward. I really enjoyed getting back on the wheel after what seems like months spent hand-building the ancient pottery replicas. It brought home to me how productivity can be increased by using equipment and skills learnt over a long period of time, rather than working without tools and not a sufficiently long period of practice!

Having said that, I am very pleased with the urns I've been making by hand for the Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre.
This one shows off the decoration applied by pushing a piece of rope into the damp clay.
I have come to the conclusion that I will use the Wood fired kiln to fire some of these - just taking them gently up to 900C, to turn them ceramic and perhaps get some effect of the wood burning.

Creativity In a Nutshell

Back from Creativity In The Bronze Age Conference - a mixed bag of offerings, as usual with these sort of events some good and some not so good, from my own perspective. I'm not sure it delivered "what it said on the tin" about the creative process, but as that was a very tall order perhaps I should not be surprised. However some very thought provoking ideas were being kicked about - some useful concepts and ways of looking at how we operate as makers, but some ideas were knocked senseless.

Now back to getting ready for the workshops at Hengistbury Head next week, spent today preparing some more clay and making some more beakers and a larger collared urn that is needed as an example. Looks like over 50 people will be turning up over the 3 days to come and play!

Conference Calls

I'm currently in Cambridge at the start of the CinBA conference, all about creativity in the Bronze Age. Very hopeful of an interesting and instructive couple of days - mixing with archaeologists and makers. Slightly worried about how my attempt at engaging them will be received.

Telling It Like It Is

I've spent a good few hours compiling bulk email news alerts - so that all the fans and admirers of the organisations I work with get to hear about what is happening this year.
I use the Mail Chimp system, which seems to work very well for this sort of communication on the internet. Most folk seem happy to be told or reminded about activities.
Take a look at the Artseeker Mail Chimp News Alert.
I've also set up some of this year's events on the Ancient Wessex Network Website.
It looks like I will have a busy summer..... 

Down My Way

I've had a great couple of days making and firing pots at Down Farm, as part of the project I am doing making replicas for the new visitor centre at Hengistbury Head. I was being recorded on video to be shown at the centre on a loop as part of the display.
We had some reasonable successes, several pots survived the firings and we made a very good large collared urn.
Thanks to Mark and Jennie for their help and encouragement.
I have posted a report on my website at this link.