| From Dust to Clay - Recent Happenings Check out our Blog for more of the latest |
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| Copyright 2005, 2006, 2007 Content property of From Dust to Clay, LLC All rights reserved |
| Sumi Vase gets auctioned off at Habitat for Humanity Event |
The vase pictured to the left
was donated to the Portland
Habitat for Humanity "First
Thursday" Benefit Auction
held at City Hall. The
benefit raised a total of $400,
which will be used toward
building materials to
construct simple, decent,
affordable Habitat for
Humanity homes in Portland.
was donated to the Portland
Habitat for Humanity "First
Thursday" Benefit Auction
held at City Hall. The
benefit raised a total of $400,
which will be used toward
building materials to
construct simple, decent,
affordable Habitat for
Humanity homes in Portland.
| Bill and Sandy become members of Oregon Potters Association |
In January 2007, Bill and Sandy became members of the Oregon Potters
Association. OPAis a non-profit group of clay artists working in Oregon and
Southwest Washington, USA.
OPA serves as a professional liaison between the public, galleries, businesses,
publications and arts agencies locally, nationally and globaly. Our members
organize cooperative purchases to obtain pottery supplies, books and materials at
quantity discount prices. We help and enable members to publicize, exhibit and sell
their work at the annual OPA Ceramic Showcase and in conjunction with other
guilds, fairs, and craft organizations. Bill will be helping visiting potters from
Mexico at the Ceramic Showcase Event Sunday May 6, 2007.
Association. OPAis a non-profit group of clay artists working in Oregon and
Southwest Washington, USA.
OPA serves as a professional liaison between the public, galleries, businesses,
publications and arts agencies locally, nationally and globaly. Our members
organize cooperative purchases to obtain pottery supplies, books and materials at
quantity discount prices. We help and enable members to publicize, exhibit and sell
their work at the annual OPA Ceramic Showcase and in conjunction with other
guilds, fairs, and craft organizations. Bill will be helping visiting potters from
Mexico at the Ceramic Showcase Event Sunday May 6, 2007.
| Bill meets Master Potters from Mexico |
The Oregon Potters Association hosted Master Potters from Mexico during the Ceramic Showcase event May 6, 2007. Bill had the opportunity to
meet the potters and help them sell some of their pots at the event. It was an inspiring experience to meet Alberta Sanchez Mateo and Macrina Mateo
Martinez from San Marcos Tlapazola Oaxaca, Angelica Vazquez Cruz from Santa Maria Atzompa, Oaxaca, and Angel Santos Juarez from Tonala,
Jalisco. These four individuals are a sampling of the breadth of style, form, technique and cultural history in the Mexican clay world. We learned about
their fascinating history, and gained a better appreciation of their pottery traditions. It was nice to help them reach a broader market and see them earn
some resources to continue their ancient arts. Here is a video link to "The potteers of San Marcos." Master Potters Video Link
meet the potters and help them sell some of their pots at the event. It was an inspiring experience to meet Alberta Sanchez Mateo and Macrina Mateo
Martinez from San Marcos Tlapazola Oaxaca, Angelica Vazquez Cruz from Santa Maria Atzompa, Oaxaca, and Angel Santos Juarez from Tonala,
Jalisco. These four individuals are a sampling of the breadth of style, form, technique and cultural history in the Mexican clay world. We learned about
their fascinating history, and gained a better appreciation of their pottery traditions. It was nice to help them reach a broader market and see them earn
some resources to continue their ancient arts. Here is a video link to "The potteers of San Marcos." Master Potters Video Link
| From Dust to Clay was part of the show and demonstrated wheel throwing at the Northwest Art & Air Festival |
We exhibited pottery and demonstrated wheel throwing at the eighth annual Northwest Art & Air Festival in Albany, Oregon Friday, August 24, 2007
through Sunday, August 26, 2007. The three-day festival included a juried art show and sale; hot-air balloons lifting off every morning and the popular
Night Glow Friday evening; We were with about five dozen artists from throughout the Northwest. Bill demonstrated wheel throwing from 11:00 to
1:00 Saturday - pictured above is one of the hands on participants setting out to make a bowl as part of the Empty Bowls program.
through Sunday, August 26, 2007. The three-day festival included a juried art show and sale; hot-air balloons lifting off every morning and the popular
Night Glow Friday evening; We were with about five dozen artists from throughout the Northwest. Bill demonstrated wheel throwing from 11:00 to
1:00 Saturday - pictured above is one of the hands on participants setting out to make a bowl as part of the Empty Bowls program.
| Pictures from Art Shows |
We have also been busy in 'the lab' formulating a new red color. I received a commission to do a red serving dish and had to develop the red glaze.
You may not know it, but red is one of the most difficult colors to create in a kiln (especially in an electric kiln). Most of the cherry reds that you
see actually have lead or cadmium in them (which of course are highly toxic). A lot of the iron based reds really are dark brown. So it makes it very
difficult to achieve a non-toxic red. But thanks to the miracle of modern technology and some cool glaze software I have achieved a non-toxic, food
safe red. It's actually closer to a bergundy but that is the color I was really after.
You may not know it, but red is one of the most difficult colors to create in a kiln (especially in an electric kiln). Most of the cherry reds that you
see actually have lead or cadmium in them (which of course are highly toxic). A lot of the iron based reds really are dark brown. So it makes it very
difficult to achieve a non-toxic red. But thanks to the miracle of modern technology and some cool glaze software I have achieved a non-toxic, food
safe red. It's actually closer to a bergundy but that is the color I was really after.
| Examples of our work can be found in the 'Gallery Pages'. Below are highlights from some of our recent events |
| The Rockaway Beach Art Show was a blast for Sandy and I. We had a great time at this beautiful place walking on the beach in the morning and attending to our art booth during the day. We got lots of nice compliments on our work and sold a fair share of pieces. And we got to see some other beautiful art and meet some nice folks. It was a great way for us to spend the days together before celebrating our 25th Anniversary on 8/21/07. |
| Nativity Sets |
We have been busy making Nativity Scenes. These
became our signature item a couple of years ago when
we started making them as family gifts. We have
always been a collector of Nativity sets - collecting
them from around the world. Our design was started
by Sandy when she made a set of figurines in the early
1990's.
Pictured above are the various designs we have made.
To the left is some of the ones we have collected and
Sandy's original figurine design in the middle.
became our signature item a couple of years ago when
we started making them as family gifts. We have
always been a collector of Nativity sets - collecting
them from around the world. Our design was started
by Sandy when she made a set of figurines in the early
1990's.
Pictured above are the various designs we have made.
To the left is some of the ones we have collected and
Sandy's original figurine design in the middle.
