Focus Design Is Not a Dirty Word Heather Mae Erickson Designs For
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focus MONTHLY design is not a dirty word dirty a not is design Heather Mae Erickson designs for ambiguous function focus design is not a dirty word FEBRUARY 2008 $7.50 (Can$9, E6.50) www.ceramicsmonthly.org Ceramics Monthly February 2008 1 MONTHLY Publisher Charles Spahr Editorial [email protected] telephone: (614) 895-4213 fax: (614) 891-8960 editor Sherman Hall associate editor Jennifer Poellot Harnetty assistant editor Brandy Agnew technical editor Dave Finkelnburg Advertising/Classifieds [email protected] telephone: (614) 794-5834 fax: (614) 891-8960 classifi[email protected] telephone: (614) 794-5866 advertising manager Mona Thiel advertising services Jan Moloney Marketing telephone: (614) 794-5809 marketing manager Steve Hecker Subscriptions/Circulation customer service: (800) 342-3594 [email protected] Design/Production production editor Cynthia Conklin design Paula John Editorial and advertising offices 600 N. Cleveland Ave., Suite 210 Westerville, Ohio 43082 Editorial Advisory Board Linda Arbuckle; Professor, Ceramics, Univ. of Florida Scott Bennett; Sculptor, Birmingham, Alabama Tom Coleman; Studio Potter, Nevada Dick Lehman; Studio Potter, Indiana Meira Mathison; Director, Metchosin Art School, Canada Bernard Pucker; Director, Pucker Gallery, Boston Phil Rogers; Potter and Author, Wales Jan Schachter; Potter, California Mark Shapiro; Worthington, Massachusetts Susan York; Santa Fe, New Mexico Ceramics Monthly (ISSN 0009-0328) is published monthly, except July and August, by Ceramic Publications Company; a subsidiary of The American Ceramic Society, 600 N. Cleveland Ave., Suite 210, Westerville, Ohio 43082; www.ceramics.org. Periodicals postage paid at Westerville, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. Opinions expressed are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent those of the editors or The American Ceramic Society. The publisher makes no claim as to the food safety of published glaze recipes. Readers should refer to MSDS (material safety data sheets) for all raw materials, and should take all appropriate recom- mended safety measures, according to toxicity ratings. subscription rates: One year $34.95, two years $59.95. Canada: One year $40, two years $75. International: One year $60, two years $99. back issues: When available, back issues are $7.50 each, plus $3 shipping/handling; $8 for expedited shipping (UPS 2-day air); and $6 for shipping outside North America. Allow 4–6 weeks for delivery. change of address: Please give us four weeks advance notice. Send the magazine address label as well as your new address to: Ceramics Monthly, Circulation Department, P.O. Box 2107, Marion, OH 43306-8207. contributors: Writing and photographic guidelines are available online at www.ceramicsmonthly.org. indexing: Visit the Ceramics Monthly website at www.ceramicsmonthly.org to search an index of article titles and artists’ names. Feature articles are also indexed in the Art Index, daai (design and applied arts index). copies: Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use beyond the limits of Sections 107 or 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law is granted by The American Ceramic Society, ISSN 0009-0328, provided that the appropriate fee is paid directly to Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Dr., Danvers, MA 01923, USA; (978) 750-8400; www.copyright.com. Prior to photocopying items for classroom use, please contact Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. This consent does not extend to copying items for general distribution, or for advertising or promotional purposes, or to republishing items in whole or in part in any work in any format. Please direct republication or special copying permission requests to the Publisher, The Ceramic Publications Company; a subsidiary of American Ceramic Society, 600 N. Cleveland Ave., Suite 210, Westerville, Ohio 43082, USA. postmaster: Send address changes to Ceramics Monthly, P.O. Box 2107, Marion, OH 43306-8207. Form 3579 requested. Copyright © 2008, The Ceramic Publications Company; a subsidiary of American Ceramic Society. All rights reserved. www.ceramicsmonthly.org Ceramics Monthly February 2008 2 Tom and Elaine Coleman, “The beauty of firing in a Geil Kiln.” Geil/Coleman – 3-Day Kiln Firing Workshop Saturday, Sunday, & Monday – May 17, 18, 19 2008 Location: Geil Kilns 7201 Clay Ave., – Huntington Beach, – California 92648 Cost: $250.00 per person Space is limited to 40 participants Call 800-887-4345 and reserve your spot today! Model DL-18F Ceramics Monthly February 2008 3 Ceramics Monthly February 2008 4 FEBRUARY 2008 / Volume 56 Number 2 MONTHLY focus design 32 Thinking Through Design by Susan York Artist residency centers and design companies open dialog between artists and industry. 36 The Role of the Mold by Andrew Martin Andrew Martin discusses the boundless creative and conceptual potential of the mold. monthly methods Servitude and Loss by Tom Spleth 40 Heather Mae Erickson: Separate by Design by Glen R. Brown Not easily classified, Heather Mae Erickson’s work proves that art, craft and design are not mutually exclusive, and offers a compelling glimpse of what may lie ahead for studio ceramics. 44 Parafunctionality by Tony Hepburn In choosing the works for the Scripps College 63rd Ceramic Annual, Tony Hepburn pondered the role of the artist/designer/architect in the 21st century. features 47 Tatsuzo Shimaoka 1919–2007 by Mason Riddle The ceramics community reflects on the loss of a master. 50 The Strong Silent Type Michael McCarthy’s Quiet Craftsmanship by Scott Norris A New England artist creates pots that are understated, yet filled with vigor. recipes Cone 10 Glazes 54 The Timeless Elegance of Harrison McIntosh by Judy Seckler Clean form and crisp graphic designs recall a mid-twentieth-century aesthetic that is both subtle and graceful. 58 Talc and Asbestos: 36 What We Know and What We Don’t by Jeff Zamek How safe are the talcs we use? Here, we take a closer look and discuss alternatives to talc in the studio. recipes Low-Fire Clay Bodies mineral analysis Texas Talc and NYTAL HR 100 cover: Appetizer platter with spoons, 17½ in. (44 cm) in diameter, slip-cast and thrown porcelain with underglaze and Alfred white glaze, 2007, by Heather Mae Erickson, Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 44 vania; page 46. Photo: Ken Yanoviak. 54 Ceramics Monthly February 2008 5 departments 8 from the editor 10 letters from readers 14 answers from the CM technical staff 16 suggestions from readers 16 Tip of the Month: Household Clay Drying 18 upfront reviews, news and exhibitions 30 click and collect pay a virtual visit to the galleries in this issue 62 call for entries 62 International Exhibitions 62 United States Exhibitions 66 Regional Exhibitions 66 Fairs and Festivals 70 book review Craft in America, by Diana Lyn Roberts 72 calendar 72 Conferences 72 Solo Exhibitions 73 Group Ceramics Exhibitions 74 Ceramics in Multimedia Exhibitions 74 Fairs, Festivals and Sales 75 Workshops 80 International Events 86 classified advertising 87 index to advertisers 88 comment 21 Why the Y? by Robert Silverman online www.ceramicsmonthly.org current features, expanded features, archive articles, calendar, call for entries and classifieds special listings Gallery Guide Where to see ceramics in the U.S. and abroad Residencies and Fellowships Full listing of professional-development opportunities 26 26 Ceramics Monthly February 2008 6 Ceramics Monthly February 2008 7 from the editor by Sherman Hall I love home improvement shows. Not the Now, the word design means a lot of place—improving upon the design of the extreme variety, though—not the wreck-an- things depending on the context. If you take objects in our lives. If we are not actively entire-house-and-build-a-new-one-in-a-day your definition from some of those cable designing the objects we make, then we are type, but the kind that takes you through television shows I just mentioned, it can simply making mudpies. the decision-making process with the home mean rearranging the furniture and painting And let’s not forget a very important owners, builders, architects, designers and the walls—but that’s not what we’re talking partner of design that is particularly suited decorators. I want to know about the guts of about here. We are talking about a given to ceramics: experimentation. Yes, there the house and how a problem can be solved need, problem, shortcoming, etc., that can are those “happy” kiln accidents we love in an elegant, efficient, aesthetically sensi- be made better by the intentional, focused to praise, which conveniently remove the tive manner. I don’t even necessarily like the application of human intellect—arriving blame—and the responsibility—for our finished product sometimes, but I do enjoy ultimately at a better mouse trap, an object results from us and attribute it to some kind seeing the planning and the process unfold. that better serves a human need. of “magic” in the process. But what I mean That said, so many seem to jump over the Whether you are making an object of is that starting without a complete plan can process and just show the results. These are utility or an object of concept, getting it sometimes provide information we didn’t usually hosted by an overly perky television into physical form requires the intellectual even know we were looking for. Such experi- personality and their scripts are peppered act of designing as well as the physical act ments are not likely to yield the final answer with phrases like “splash of color” and “focal of making. And I think it’s fair to say that to our questions, but they make it possible point.” Some of these should just be called the most successful examples of design in for us to return to our design problems with home change shows. handmade ceramics are where the two are new information. The authors and subjects For me, whether it’s a house or a mug executed in harmony with each other; one of our focus articles this month (beginning (I’ve been making a lot of mugs lately), it’s does not necessarily dictate the other.