Caught Up - June ReStart

June 19th

We prep for a kiln firing tomorrow. Kiln #1 is the perfect load. A gas kiln because the circulation of the atmosphere is the best for drying the thin slabs. These 3 mm slabs dry so fast that by the day’s end, the 1st slab of the day is bone dry. We’re wondering if the elevator that carries the carts up from the ground floor is too rough a ride for the slabs. I rode down, even persons are verboten – it is dark inside {no problem there} but the jolt at the start and the landing are not too soft. How do we know if the slabs will survive. It think if we put the cart on rubber or a foam float this should work. {there is a sign – “no delicate work” on the outside of the lift.

Then the next kiln is not til 6/27; one week. Hopefully we will have success with this series of slabs. Other ideas would be to mix the dry bone china with 50/50mix of oil and alcohol to replace water as a binder. This could be problematic, if the alcohol evaporates over time?

Experiments today are best covered by photo’s. We’re set for the feel of perfect water ratio – almost too sticky to handle. Then we learned the interfacing in critical to holding the slab vertically when we transfer it to the kiln shelf. One of the Inside slabs fell onto the shelf – crumpled completed in a folded section. Spread it out – to see the effect to “dropping” the slab on the cracking upon exposure to heat.

Now to set up for posting – before dinner the weeks writing and photo journaling. It is glorious sunny evening, but I’ve been working to find time to post the blog – as this is a new rhythm to the days, for the past four or five days.

Nerves of Steel _ Supple Muscles

As a team - it is much easier to make slabs - so many steps to roll out one that is 46cm x 68cm by 3mm thick. Then make a texture using the rhythm of a musical piece and our fingers.

If we slide three layers of the thin foam beneath the slab, there is a sweet resistance, if not – just a hard surface to absorb our presence. Subtle, yet effective in saving muscle energy.

Step One through….

mix Bone China – add .5 % of flax fibers – mix “wet”
age 5 months
drop from waist height to floor 10/12 times – excite it
wedge_ on plaster slab– up til 100 rotations – or until it starts to have smooth feel with resistance
slap out to 25/27 cm in a loaf
skip slap it out to slab of approx 18/20 mm thickness
place on piece of muslin
roll out using plywood on either side slab
46cm by 28 cm – cut straight edges on slab
transfer to slab roller – place on roller to align to stack of stretched canvas, muslin, interfacing –
cover with plastic wrap – thicker/stiff mil sprayed with fine mist of 50/50 oil and denatured alcohol

Roll – only in forward direction – til 3mm thickness
Cut using template for slab – texture - both sides, etc.
Using a chamois – compress the edges of the slab
Then, ”Do your _thing. . .”

NOW is the time to make it delicate – inner - outer expression of context, energy, expression, mystery, nuance, drape and connection.

Finger rhythms require foam below, and well defined fore arms

Draping the slab as if it were fabric, two sets of hands and nerves of steel – direct and firm conviction.

Failure - Means Learning

Slab rolling has a steep learning curve as well. This little bunch of wrapped clay, poising as an innocent present, is the fourth failure to make a slab, despite weighting out 1 kilo more clay than the previous two successes! Proves that trying harder is not always the route to success.

Voila – the issue we happen upon after an hour plus of failure {some how failure seems to absorb more than 8x’s the energy and 3x’s the physical time of FLOW (success) time} the moisture in the clay influences the outcome etc.

As I wedged the first 3-kilo lump, my intuition said, hum – stiff clay. Yet, it took four failures of rolling slabs - and finally this obscure fact rose with my sweat and exhaustion to consciousness.

Now that I write about the day, I realize there is a small device to measure the resistance of the clay {a function of the % of moisture} I played with in January. This too was a detail I did not recall or realize was an important data point collected.

Moments Taken to Capture Beauty

Five kilos of bone china borders my current physical strength to wedge, roll and prepare for a decent slab. At 3 mm thickness the wet slab measures 60 x 80 or close. This maybe the size limitation.

Testing slab four refined technique one. Results after the firing will let me know if it is a useful production technique.

Layers of boards, stretch taut canvas, a veneer of plywood behind this with a muslin layer, interfacing, bone china, interfacing and a canvas top stack like a wedding gown procession. The slab roller is like a big press without heat.

June 16th
First morning I woke knowing I’d slept, jet lag has moved over to Sarah’s side of the room. Later in the day, she is able to tell me dawn arrives at 4:30AM, and the birds are loudest at the start of the morning light. Yes, I say, I know.

Tonight after dinner, we print out the plan of how the panels with layout, 3 high by 5 wide – with two layers – off set by two panels, etc. This means a count of 30 panels (hoping we can make 1/hour – that means around a week for ‘production’)

But onto a more romantic view of our time here, lived in the moment. Looking outside between ripping the edge of paper for our full scale mock up – the light is spectacular – for moments – between opening a window to capture one view – without the glare of glass – and then attempting through the glass for a better composition of the clock tower – the light has faded in brilliance. An invitation to be present for the special movement of time and sensing one’s presence in the moment.

Moved the slab roller into the studio today that meant we moved everything around. The entry zone is for clay – and wet work, middle section for displaying our mock up – and the final and then the end zone near the stairs for our clean desks. Our linen cloth on the work surface is most elegant with freesia and starburst of purple flowers gracing the centerline.

Full Scale Mock Up

.ewkc is a cloister of sorts. My day was composed of simple movements from the single room and studio. It all seems so practical yet full of details.

Preparing and working to find flow. Resting three or more times today; stopping to eat then taking time to read, connect with home, cat nap and or stretch.

Over the past three days I’ve started to set up a rough full scale structure using pipes, string and interfacing, paper or thin sheet of packaging foam, for the panels. Slowing building an awareness and presence. For here the details can arise.

Learned direct frontal approach is most striking. Viewing the ‘straight edge outer skin’ hung parallel with the room’s walls gives the viewer a contextual norm. The translucency hints at an inner layer or something beyond expectation.

If the viewer first encounters the opening “V” inner skin, the funnel sucks any perception of layered mystery. As well, the non-parallel panel is jarring, unwelcoming; initiating resistance.

Light from behind, is essential. The studio receives morning light, offering directional source. Keep coming back to how a simulation of time would be sweet.

Hoping contact at Philips for LED lighting will yield a source for an innovative lighting solution.

Each night so far, I finally sleep a jet lag fitful rest until hearing early birds and seeing the soft dawn light.

Tomorrow passes in a fluid series of details mostly practical and impractical. – No Photo’s yet.

I design a prototype hardware system for the panels and figure out how to fabricate interconnect for the pipes and cables.

Off to a hardware store for supplies on a rickety blue five speed bike. When I left the shop, I turned and encountered a void where I’d parked the bike. Returning to. ekwc, via bus, I sourced and repaired a bike in the back corner that is rustier than the one I’d thought no one would steal.

The sales man at the bike shop said there are over one million bikes sold each year in Holland and around 800,000 stolen. I bought a 37 Euro lock, an inner tube and tier stems. The bike has rear hub brakes like my first bike in Ohio circa 1961.

In the evening, I rejoined the community of Five Rhythms in Den Bosch. Ingrid, who mixed the wave – played 28 minutes of drumming. I was one of the few who danced the entire piece. My body responded to the nuanced rhythms, and I became aware my entire body can participate when I finger hammer the bone china panels, not just my hands and fore arms.

Finger rhythms on the one maybe best done for each slab – not a molded pattern. Good exercise especially if the music has counterpoint rhythms.

As dusk fell, then under the emergency light, I set up the last of the studio today. Unpacking the work from January and pinning up the Idea Wall; artist’s _ architecture _ materials _ methods _ philosophy.

Outside details and Inside details that offer an invitation for expression of internal life sheltered by exterior facade of a building; graced by the shifting light and time of day and the energy flow of connection.

Studio set up for the first round. When Sarah arrives, we discover our shared intrinsic spacial refinement. We balanced the desks/surfaces and tools around – preserving the best lighting for the area where we will stage the mock-ups and final.

Bone china made in January is supple and a bit too wet. Drying on plaster after an initial drop to the floor, spiral wedging – then more wedging. Seems that 4 – 5 Kilos’ is a good chunk to make a 40 x 60 cm slab.

Specific materials and tools make all the difference. The interfacing I purchased in the US is too flimsy, falling apart. Guess we can make a full-scale mockup to determine actual proportions.

Found a good back saving device that has a lift, for moving panels from roller to storage to kilns. Simple and essential _ Thinking versus sweating.

Studio 9

Day One in Studio 9 _ June 12, 2007

Attempted Scale today. Chasing time and uncertainty. If we fire a panel early in either Neil or Bas kiln loads (neither are firing to 1280 but close enough) to determine if the panels at scale will crack, warp or slump. Will attempt two more as soon as Bas indicates his shelf size for kiln # 1 – the tower.

Using the upstairs heavy-duty slab roller. There is not an adjustment for the thickness of the slab, but trial and error method to insert a thin sheet of plywood or canvas as an adjustment.

Cloistered Life @ .ekwc

Moving through space and time, seeking rest in another time zone, and entering a cloistered life. A stiff twin bed tucked into a simple attic space pushes the shift in my reality. Life simplified to basic elements of shelter, food and exploration of my own art tinged with the practical doer while mixing in an undercurrent of a designers’ logic.

I will slip into a time of self, sleeping alone, eating in a group at the evening meal, food I do not control or influence. Then rise the next morning to begin again the work of yesterday. Walking a path thousands of miles distant, documented with photos.

WeekOne

The cathedral bell rings one time, and my jet lag combines with thoughts. People left behind in San Francisco, last visits and element of my life there in progression. I’d prefer to write to each person my thoughts, yet there is a universal element to my experience.

Like entering a cloister dedicated to an aesthetic life. Exploring art and expression with clay as a material. There are nine residences here presently. Mostly youth defined as those under thirty. I believe I am the elder or perhaps Niki who is an exhibited sculpture from Tilburg. Bas is here still finishing his six months of back-to-back residences.