July 1st – Beginning of 4th week

Started “production” of the inside panels yesterday. We realize that each panel will be unique. Still struggling with the moisture content of the clay as well as the shrinkage. The panels seem to expand outward at the bottoms as they dry. Creeping outward – despite checking them against the template several times.

We drap the clay over a steel pipe wrapped with insulation foam from plumbing pipes to form top of the panel. We found these can be removed after 2 – 4 hours. Any more than 4 hours, and the bone china will have shrunk too much to allow removal.

We began templates today for the outside series of panels. We’ll mark a code for punches/holes, etc at the top and bottom.

We’ve discovered how to each work the process, individually doing parts and doubling up only on several parts when it takes four hands.

After two hours of hard labor, we took a break and rode bikes into the “Brook” zone south of town. Going further than other times and on a different route, we happened upon government buildings of modern architectural style. There were pre-cast concrete panels – with a rhythm and repeated pattern – flipped. Similar in concept to conversations we’d begun about the outside panel. Good to take a break, for exercise, sunshine and visual stimulation.