Three Weeks Sprint to Final Presentation

As I return to Holland from a much-needed rest in Italy – another side story – I can sense the need to bring closure to all the mini decisions we’ve made over the past 12 weeks.

I understand in principal each facet, and now continue the perspiration to bring to completion a polished piece.

Submitted the Announcement today to the PR arm of EKWC so they can post it to their mailing list. Here ie the text.

“Ties That Bind Us” is an installation featuring the Hand, Mind and Heart of the makers. In an age of increased social isolation, globalization and explosion of digital technologies this installation transcends the perfection of machine made ubiquitous products.

The translucent interior divider has a metaphysical presence and
highlights the unique physical characteristics of ceramics not obtainable using other materials: fluidity, translucency and tactile surfaces.

A cable system hangs thirty-six bone china panels, 35mm x 60mm, creating an interior divider of two parallel architectural skins. A structured “Outside Skin” where finger rhythms hammered the surface and subtle vertical hole patterns become a plane to capture, transmit and telegraph lighting conditions. And the offset parallel plane of “Inside Skin” drapes as if shifting winds are rippling the
fabric that binds humans; no matter the cultural bias.

A collaborative project by Carol Koffel, visual artist, and Sarah
Willmer, architect, during a combined residency at EKWC,
s'Hertogenbosh, Holland.

Completed in 2007

We do not have contacts here in Holland – so we can rely on their world to learn more the next steps.

Off to Philips Lighting Center tomorrow to learn more about potential method for lighting the installation - then meeting on Monday with Simone Maase – that teaches at Eindhoven University, works in clay as well as lighting.

Sharpened a metal punch today to solve the issue with how best to drill accurate holes in the metal pieces, etc.

Up late waiting to close the damper on the Kiln # 7 – and electric kiln – that has a special catalytic system so one can burn out any material. Me – I just selected it since it is the smallest one. I am running experiments for how best to fire the bone china breast molds – to retain the form. I’ve made boxes as shrink slabs (may not work as these are not from the same clay body) and to hold material to block the bone china from collapsing.

One experiment is to use Alumina Oxide - which will not stick to the back of the breast mold – the other is sand. Will take photos as I unstuck on Thursday night or Friday morning.

Stack Kiln #1 again to test another alternative method of making the outside panels. The top loop collapsed without support – and the insertion of a tube is not too clean. This time I’ve inserted a small slab before turning down the loop. I think it is the best solution – but before going forward, I want to fire three to see the result.

More later, it is now past midnight and Kiln # 7 should be at 500 degrees C; time to close the damper.