Ohio University Woodfired Ceramics

Frederick Harris Collection-pt.2

2011-06-28T16:27:00.006-04:00

Here are a few woodfired highlights from the collection:

Han Dynasty, Chinese

Silla Kingdom, Korea

Seto, Japan

Shigaraki, Japan

Frederick Harris Ceramic Collection-pt. 1

2011-06-28T12:11:00.007-04:00

Shortly after the 2011 school year ended,

Ben Stout (Ceramics MFA), Bryce Brisco (Ceramics MFA), and Kat Hammond (MA 2010)

were hired to accession, document and research the objects donated to the Alden Library by Frederick Harris. The Project was headed up by Gary Ginther (Fine Arts Librarian), Marion Lee (Art History Professor), and Brad Schwieger (Ceramics Chair, Professor). The collection contains over 150 ceramic objects, numerous figures, hundreds of scrolls and paintings, as well as the personal paintings and sketchbooks of Fred Harris, who was an accomplished artist in his own right.

Several outside graduate students were brought in for consultation about the Japanese and Chinese characters. Unfortunately, no paperwork or receipts were recovered with the collection, which has led to much head scratching, and guesswork about the origins of some of the objects.

Marion and I looking at a Sui Dynasty Horse figure.

Kat, Marion, and I with the collection.

Big Cat-Class Firing

2011-06-09T10:47:00.002-04:00

The Spring 2011 Wheel Throwing II Class

fired up the Big Caternary Arch Kiln last weekend.

Thanks to Mike Spellacy for the images.

Brisco- Thesis Exhibition Opening

2011-06-04T23:45:00.015-04:00

The exhibition opening was well attended, due in no small part to the Southern Baptist style fried chicken buffet and cold bottles of Budweiser. In addition to show invitations and business cards, I published a 32 page full color catalog of work, which was available at the opening.

Super deluxe floral design courtesy of my sister, Lacey Brisco.

Garnitures of Vases and Bottles

L to R:

Tom Bartel, Rachel Clark, Alex Hibbit, Petra Kralikova, Chuck McWeeny, and Brad Schwieger: all the heavies in one shot.

The menu consisted of all requisite southern delicacies :

fried chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, Hawaiian rolls, deviled eggs, fresh tomatoes, pickled okra,watermelon, oatmeal cream pies, ambrosia salad, and of course, pork rinds.

Thesis Exhibition Installed-Brisco

2011-05-22T20:44:00.002-04:00

Undergraduate Exhibition-Brian Pierce

2011-05-18T12:15:00.006-04:00

Ohio University Ceramics Department is proud to present

Brian Pierce's undergraduate showcase titled " Individual Paradox".

Brian fired his BFA work in the Tube Kiln.

Below is Brian's Artist Statement.

My work explores atmospheric firing, especially, our attempt to control the firing given the seemingly unpredictable nature of the process. My intention is to understand, learn and control these processes as best to my abilities to express the qualities of atmospheric firing to impart individual surfaces on the work.

I am firing work that has been placed in cut saggars or tumble stacking the work. By placing work in cut saggars or tumble stacking, I am attempting to control how the atmosphere will affect the surfaces. By doing this, each pot becomes intrinsically connected with the others while remaining individual. Paradoxically the individual is then dependent upon the group. Each pot is then uniquely linked to the choices made in stacking the kiln, cutting the saggars, length of firing, fuel and atmosphere. As a group they form a narrative of how the fire travels through the kiln, while individually they show one specific point and time. Despite the fact that all the variables can be repeated exactly the same they will not yield the same exact results.

David Scott Smith-Visiting Artist

2011-05-15T17:39:00.005-04:00

Ohio University is supremely pleased to host

David Scott Smith

as a visiting artist, and as the 14th Annual Brat-Off Juror.

David is one hell of an taxidermist, hot tub technician, and/or crab fisherman. He also occasionally gets around to making some amazing slipcast ceramic art.

Check it out here!

Bryce Brisco-Thesis Exhibition Preview

2011-05-15T12:53:00.004-04:00

Here are few preview images of Woodfired pots to be included in the Exhibition.

All of these came from the small catenary wood/salt kiln.

Thesis Exhibition Announcement-Brisco

2011-05-09T17:13:00.005-04:00

Ohio University Ceramics Department
presents

Bryce Brisco: Pottery

a Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition
Trisolini Gallery in Baker Center
Athens, Ohio
May 23rd-June 4th
Reception May 27th, 6-8 p.m

I am deeply interested in Southern American folk wares and the three main cultural influences that this tradition was derived from: German salt glaze, English slipware, and Chinese ash glaze. These formal choices paired with a rigorous studio practice of critical dialogue and conceptual inquiry fuel my attempt to better access and articulate the content of functional pottery. This includes examining pottery from not only a functional standpoint, but the roles it plays historically, culturally, and symbolically. Handmade pottery, especially that from deeply rooted traditions, has survived our culture’s technological advancements, based on its ability to provide a meaningful aesthetic experience in concert with its delivery or containment of food and beverage. Towards this end I employ locally sourced clays and ash, as well as cullet, to situate the pots more specifically to their site of origin. I believe that a close working relationship with a few idiosyncratic materials yields qualities unattainable by those commercially available. The process of minimally refining clay, ash, and recycled glass coupled with wood firing in a salt atmosphere imbues the pots with a sense of liveliness and beauty. I appreciate the unknown factors and surprises implicit in these processes.

+For more information concerning the exhibition, available work, mailings, or a catalog of the show, please contact:

brycebrisco@gmail.com

Wood Delivery

2011-02-19T21:54:00.005-05:00

Brian Benfer-Visiting Faculty

2010-12-07T14:01:00.015-05:00

Ohio University Ceramics Department
is pleased to have with us this fall and winter quarters,
Brian Benfer.These pieces are from his Industrial Ceramics Series. From his website:

industrial ceramics have enabled me a continued participation in what i view as being the most significant traditional aspect of the discipline: the fire. through the medieval wood-fired process, the residual provides an object that has undergone an experiential transformation of both heat and fire. it provokes an interesting dialogue between the “old” and the “new” by presenting an honest focus on elements of the fire without creating a “pallet” (i.e. object)—thus challenging the intentions of the makers in utilizing a process serving to beautify a static object. i have found this transformation to be better understood, visually, by utilizing an everyday, recognizable object. the work entertains multiple conversations including contemporary wood-fired ceramics, asian aesthetics, duchamp/dada and the tea ceremony. for that reason i have focused primarily on porcelain bathroom furniture, revisiting historical associations involving vessels containing liquid.

a second aspect of the series deals the kiln’s/fire’s role change from being primarily surface-oriented to that of “maker.” while unearthing shards of thermal expansion, other considerations were revealed. among them were those of environmental consciousness—implications of recycling the excess material via reassembly versus discarding them—archeological associations—an homage to the work of the museum conservator—and last, considerations of historical eastern practices—the filling of exposed cracks with gold.

Brian's work on Access Ceramics and ArtAxis

Also check out his article

"Documenting Fire" by Dawn Pedula

in the latest copy of Ceramics Technical, No. 31, Vol.16, Issue 2

The crucibles shown in the first image were included in the Ohio Univeristy Ceramics Invitational 2010.

left overs and random bits

2010-11-21T21:35:00.006-05:00

Here are a few choice shots taken during the symposium that just didn't seem to fit in anywhere else...thanks again to all our amazing photographers.

Bobby hard at work

Peeps on the Green Monster

Ben and Bryce at Logan Clay

The Department at Night

Woodfiring Symposium-OU National Ceramics Invitational Exhibition Part 2

2010-11-21T21:17:00.011-05:00

Many Thanks to Trisolini Gallery, and Petra Kralickova. As well as my co-curators, Natalie Tornatore, and Eleanor Harper, and co conspirator, James Tingey.

Also included in the show were Russ Wrankle, and Brian Harper.

Patrick Houston, who also attended the symposium.

Missy McCormick and Josh Copus.

Lindsay Oesteritter

Matt Hyleck

Birdie Boone

Brain Benfer

Woodfiring Symposium-OU National Ceramics Invitational Exhibition

2010-11-21T20:58:00.017-05:00

In conjunction with the Woodfiring Symposium we hosted a National Invitational Ceramics Exhibition in Trisolini Gallery which ran from July through October.
Pictured above is Sam Hoffman.

Dennis Sipiorski of Louisiana, a great potter and elvis impersonator.

Kurt Anderson, Lidded Jar.

The Blog-Father himself, Micheal Kline of North Carolina sent us this amazing pot.

Dan Anderson

Cary Hulin of Holmes County Pottery in Ohio.

McKenzie Smith

Michael Hunt and Naomi Diaglish

Ryan Greenheck

Brenda Lichmann

I had to include two images of Mary Louise Carters teapot,
so you could see the locking lid system.

Brian Deietrle

Tara Wilson

Adam Posnak

Woodfiring Symposium-Logan Clay Field Trip

2010-11-21T20:41:00.009-05:00

While the kilns were cooling, we all took a trip over to Logan Ohio, to get a tour of the Logan Clay Plant. Logan Clay is one of the last remaining ceramic sewer pipe factories in the country. We used some of their clay which is mined in nearby Perry County during the symposium. It is an orange-greenish clay with high iron content, it looked beautiful in the reduction cooled train kiln. The above picture is the grinding machine where they process the raw clay.

This is the largest tube kiln at Logan Clay, this kiln hasn't operated in several years, due to high energy prices. Most of the sewer pipes are fired in Beehive Kilns outside. Our tour guide told us that occasionally a pipe will tip off of the car bed (see below) and drag against the wall. Highly sensitive machinery can detect the drag, and a worker is suited up in a silver suit and sent into the firing kiln with a shot gun to shoot the fallen pipe... completely crazy.

these are the cars for the tube kiln...you can see several racks of drying pipes in the background.

A list of retired workers painted on a warehouse beam.

This the yard where they store finished pipes. The beehive kilns are the black roofs in the background. Most of the pipes made here go to big cities (New York, Chicago) which have old infrastructures. A PVC pipe will last about 75 years, while a ceramic pipe lasts about 200.

Here is Bryce in the Drying room, which was completely packed with green ware, it was like a forest of clay trees.

This is the extruder used to make the pipes, which were under such huge amounts of pressure that they come out steaming...again, completely crazy.

2010-11-14T19:42:00.001-05:00

woodfiring Symposium 2010: Big Cat Kiln Firing

2010-11-14T19:33:00.004-05:00

Somehow we only ended up with a single image of the Big Cat in Action

Woodfiring Symposium 2010: Tube Kiln Firing

2010-11-14T19:24:00.007-05:00

Kyle Tripplett, James Tingey, and Bryce Brisco

James stoking

Woodfiring Symposium 2010: Train Kiln Firing Pt. 2

2010-11-14T19:14:00.002-05:00

Before and After, starring Ben Stout, Brian Pierce, Bryce Brisco, Ryan Trussel, and Matt Hyleck.

It must have been a good story, but I can't remember what the hell I was talking about...

the Train with and without a Flash

Woodfiring Symposium 2010: Train Kiln Firing

2010-11-14T19:08:00.005-05:00

Matt Hyleck stokes the Bourry Box on the Train

Ben Stout sidestoking

Kiln Shift Sign Up (Woodfiring Symposium 2010)

2010-09-20T18:35:00.002-04:00

All the pots are loaded, the doors bricked and clammed,

and finally a general meeting is called to organize shifts.

Fear not Dear Readers,

obligatory pictures of flames and stoking soon to follow.

Kiln Loading (Woodfiring Symposium 2010) pt. 2

2010-09-20T18:25:00.001-04:00

Loading the train kiln was a practically surgical enterprise,

requiring a team of four experts and a handful of on-call advisors.

The procedure went well into the night

Kiln Loading (Woodfiring Symposium 2010) pt. 1

2010-09-20T18:11:00.006-04:00

general melee on the kiln pad as we load

Ben and I discuss the finer points of wadding

James and Josh look pensively at the progress

2010-09-06T19:30:00.004-04:00

Sneek peek at latest firing of The Tube (aka wasabi). We shut the kiln down and ashed the kiln really well Saturday at 5pm, as of 7pm Monday there are still live embers. More on Friday. Many thanks to Brian Pierce and Joe Davis for bringing work and helping me to push this one through before classes resume tomorrow. Each time this kiln is fired it gets more enjoyable.

Bags, Brats, and Beers

2010-08-22T13:52:00.005-04:00

While the first round of bisque kilns were firing, and the last round of pots were drying, we had a Pre-Firing Potluck, and Double Elimination Bagg-o Tournament. Team names included:

BAG to the Future, BAGney and Lacey, Jake and the BAGman, BAG in Black, and of course Bilbo BAGgins.

Josh, Cathy, Bobby and James in the cheap seats.

The backyard of Casa de Stout y Brisco

Ben and Andy on the porch

Lindsay and Missy in the kitchen

James and I sizing up the competition.

Photo Credit: Steve Posch

pot shots (symposium 2010)

2010-08-22T13:34:00.008-04:00

Matt's lidded jars in progress

Some of Patrick Houston's flowerbricks

Josh slabbing building with some Logan Clay

Faceted forms from Schweiger

Missy attaching a handle

Small cups from Lindsay

Photo Credit: Steve Posch

Days 1-3 : part 3

2010-08-21T23:47:00.006-04:00

Josh and Bobby hard at work on Cross Tray

Lindsay making stacking jars

Missy in the studio

Matt finishing out some altered bowls

Photo Credit: Steve Posch

Pots in Production

2010-08-21T22:38:00.008-04:00

We used many different clay bodies during the symposium, one of which was a local iron rich clay mined in nearby Perry County. It was sourced from Logan Clay, one of the last remaining ceramic sewer pipe factories in the country. This clay has a greenish cast when raw, and fires to a nice chocolatey brown with large iron burnouts. We tried three different recipes that used this clay, with excellent results.

Photo Credit: Zach Nelson

Days 1-3 : part 2

2010-08-21T22:19:00.006-04:00

Photo Credit: Zach Nelson

Days 1-3 : part 1

2010-08-21T21:47:00.003-04:00

Everyone arrived in town on Thursday, and after a great potluck at Natalie Tornatore's house, we got down to the serious business of making pots.

Photo Credit: Zach Nelson

Summer Woodfiring Symposium 2010

2010-08-21T21:23:00.006-04:00

The next series of posts will chronologically highlight the Summer Wood Firing Symposium, beginning with images of the four visiting artists and participants making work, followed by glazing, and finally images from the firings.

The four invited artists were

Josh Copus, Lindsay Oesterritter, Matt Hyleck, and Missy McCormick.

The Symposium was from July 22nd, through the 31st, 2010.

We invited these four artists because they are young, emerging potters at the beginnings of their careers. Each of them come from divergent backgrounds and were influenced by varied traditions, and approach woodfiring as well as pottery making in different ways. We anticipated that their work would complement and contrast each other, and create a dialogue between practices, methodologies and philosophies. The purpose of this Symposium is to highlight the nationally competitive woodfiring facilites at Ohio University, provide an opportunity for students and community members alike to experience the woodfiring process, and see firsthand how professional ceramists work. We will also be exploring the use of local materials, such as unrefined clay from Logan, Ohio.
The National Invitational Exhibition was held in conjunction with the Symposium and was open to the public, and showcased the work of 25 nationally recognized artists working within the wide spectrum of both craft based approaches as well as sculptural ceramics.

Stucco

2010-06-25T16:53:00.005-04:00

I (James) found it necessary to make some improvements to the Tube, one was a roof extension to increase weather protection during the fall and winter and to increase the insulation on the Tube. When I fired the kiln it was almost unbearable to to be around even in mild weather and the cooling was much to quick for my taste. So after some discussion, gathering materials that were almost forgotten about, and preparation the new improved Tube will be functional just in time for the Symposium and long into the future. The kiln was constructed with one layer of these strange wedged shaped bricks, making the walls only 7 inches thick, and when the kiln heats up many gaps between the bricks appear. Trying to utilize what we had on hand, the back up insulation is varied. The main and left side stoking area are backed up with 3 inch soft brick and the remaining sides are insulated with either 1 or 2 inches of Fiberfrax panels.
The layer above the arch is a combination of soft brick and fiber. All this is covered with chicken wire and steel around the stoking doors and spyhole to keep these areas stronger and protected. The stucco for the sides consists of 2 parts screened concrete (to remove large stones), 1 parts fireclay, 1 part silica sand or coarse grog, and 3 parts vermiculite, mixed and troweled on smooth. The arch is receiving a looser coating of stucco of 2 parts concrete, 1 part clay, 7 parts vermiculite. It's already looking like a different kiln.

El Gato del Diablo

2010-06-18T19:34:00.017-04:00

and/or: The Devil Cat, The Cat of Satan, HellCat, the New Wood Kiln

Ohio University is famous for building huge kilns, three of the five kilns here could easily take 1 1/2-2 months for one person to fill. We are on the quarter system (ten weeks), and firing one of these beasts by yourself is almost a logistical improbability, given the time to make pots, split wood, fire, cool down, and present, all withstanding the inevitable rains storm Athens is blessed with.

I had been reading Brandon Phillips blog for many years, and following his firings. I decided that I liked his kiln design, and sensible approach to a one-man sized kiln with quick firing time, and efficient use of fuel. Also, the university lacked a kiln dedicated to Wood/Salt.

After firing the double catenary arch kiln ("The Double Bubble) twice, both times to disastrous results, I convinced Brad that we needed an new kiln. I pitched the idea to Brain, and we started researching plans, with much technical help via e-mail from Brandon.

Here's a picture of Brandon's former kiln down in Texas, my original inspiration...

Before we could proceed with construction of a new kiln, we needed to demolish the Double Bubble and salvage bricks from the floor and Bourry box...
Once the accursed old kiln was down, and the bricks sorted and counted, we began laying the cinder block for the foundation...
According to Appalachian tradition the setting of a perfectly square floor demands a hillbilly jig be danced
the arch goes up...

Brian Dieterle: ceramics deptartment tech, instructor, kiln building foreman, architectural designer, technical consultant, pro-am welder, and all around good guy.
skip ahead many moons, many welds, and many cursing fits...and voila:
My one request for this kiln against all others was that it have a swinging door. The very essence of woodfiring luxury. And per Brandon's advice we put stoke doors on both front and back sides...

Heres the kiln loaded for its maiden voyage...
The obligatory cone pack shot

James and I inspecting the finished work.
The firing was smooth, and easy. The results were great and continue to be. Thanks to Brandon Phillips, Brian Dieterle, Brian Pierce, Chelsea Ruwe, Paul Callahan, Elliot Marquette, John Fitz, Sara Reid, Britt Thorpe, and Bill Kravis for their efforts in making this kiln a successful addition to the OU stable.

Artist Preview

2010-06-18T12:33:00.000-04:00

We've put the finishing touches to our Visiting Artists poster and sent it off to the printers. We're really excited for Josh, Lindsay, Missy, and Matt to join us.

We're gonna need another box of Cone 12's

2010-06-16T20:59:00.000-04:00

This is the official sign up board for all the outdoor kilns. "Bud Wood" likely refers to the Tube kiln, and definitely to Budweiser. "Jochens Kiln" is the German Kiln, "Ted's Train" needs no explanation, the "Hum'R Cat" inexplicably refers to the large catenary arch, and "El Gato Del Diablo", well thats a post yet to come...

The Log Blog

2010-06-16T20:29:00.001-04:00

In preparation for this summers woodfiring Symposium, we have been splitting and stacking wood in every available square foot of the kiln pad...

Most of this is hardwood...oak, ash, and poplar...

these are some nice pine slabs we source from a local sawmill in McArthur

The Strange Case of the Mysterious German Kiln

2010-06-15T22:01:00.000-04:00

This is the "German Kiln". Little is known about this kiln, as it has not been fired in several years, though it shows signs of once being heavily fired and salted. It is an anagama/updraft salt-wood hybrid. The anagama firebox is built on a metal slope and leads directly into a sprung arch ware chamber. The damper is built into the stack directly above the ware chamber, which is unusually small.

The facts, as we know, them are as follows:

It was built by Jochen Dobers, who is the tech at the Art and Design School in Halle, Germany, in 1997.
There is a sister kiln, exactly like it in Germany. The version here at OU, according to myth, cannot be torn down, until the one in Germany first comes down.
It is extremely weird.
It was once fired by the legendary Bizen potter, Setsuo Watanabe, pictured below.

these are examples of Watanabes work,

It is said that Joe Davis fired this kiln, but this is remains an unvalidated rumor...
Tingey has plans to fire this strange little mutant sometime soon, stay tuned for more information.

Big Cat

2010-06-15T21:42:00.001-04:00

The "Big Cat" Kiln, is the larger of two catenary arch kilns at Ohio University.

This kiln is extremely efficient, using a minimum of wood, and firing in as little as 24 hours.

It is, however, massive, and usually takes a wheel throwing class to fill it.

The results are light on ash, but great for glaze firing, and produces good color from the clay bodies.

It was built by Boomer in 2005, and replaced the original catenary kiln designed and built by Gil Stengel in 1993.

Modular Wood Transportation Unit

2010-06-15T21:35:00.000-04:00

This is a system for storing and moving split cord wood cooked up by Brian Dieterle, our current Ceramics Tech, and myself . We have 8 of these, of varying sizes.

Tube Kiln

2010-06-15T20:29:00.000-04:00

The Tube Kiln was built in 2006, by Boomer Moore.

Boomer served as Ceramic Tech, and Instructor at Ohio University for nine years. He is currently an Assistant Professor at WVU .

The tube kiln sat dormant for a few years, until recently when it was fired by James Tingey, with excellent results.

The kiln has a castable arch, is front loading with the main stoking door on the side. There are small side stokes on each side, directly before a raised step in the back 1/3 of the kiln.

James' firing, as it is the only one in recent memory, serves as our only source of current firing information about this kiln. It was fired for 40 hours, using roughly 2 cords of wood.

The following images are of James Tingey's work from the Tube Kiln Firing, Spring 2010.

this footed vase came from the front, near the floor.

these pots evidence the wide range of results that can be achieved in a single firing.

Rare Birds

2010-06-15T20:20:00.001-04:00

Heres a few woodfired pieces from Brad Schwieger, professor and chair of the Ohio University Ceramics Department.

Train Kiln a la Black Adler

2010-06-15T19:37:00.000-04:00

The Train Kiln was built in 2002 by Ted Adler to support his graduate thesis research. Later it was used by Steve Schaeffer in 2005.

This is absolutely a beast of kiln, featuring a huge bourry box, a castable arch, two side stokes, a side loading door, and a damper system that can be adjusted across the flue from both sides.

Typically this kiln takes 36 hours minimum, and about 2-4 cords of wood.

This kiln was designed to produce heavy ash deposits on medium to large sized pieces...

Prior to this kiln becoming a permanent fixture on the kiln pad, Brad Schwieger would teach kiln building classes in which the class would build a train kiln, fire it, then tear it down, only to build another the next quarter. The first train kiln built at OU was in 1990.

kiln gods and door handles

2010-06-09T16:16:00.000-04:00

somewhat overly formal introduction

2010-06-09T15:22:00.000-04:00

The purpose of this blog is to describe, document, and provide updated information about all woodfiring related activities at Ohio University, Athens Ohio.

Currently our facilities include five wood burning kilns:

120 cubic foot catenary arch style wood

150 cubic foot train style wood

25 cubic foot german hybrid updraft wood/salt

35 cubic foot caternary arch wood/salt

150 cubic tube style wood/soda

Our kiln pad is located outside, adjacent to the ceramics building.

In addition to the kilns we have:

ample wood storage area (roughly enough room for 15 cords, or 20 4 x 4 pallets)

8 metal cribs for stacking split wood

a waste oil drip burner system, with a 30 gallon tank

hydraulic pallet jack

20 ton hydraulic log splitter

roughly 15 pallets of available hard and soft brick for kiln maintenance and future kiln building

2000 lbs of available dry castable mix