4 Ceramics Monthly Letters to the Editor................................................................................. 7 Answers to Questions............................................................................... 9 Where to Show.........................................................................................11 Suggestions ..............................................................................................15 Itinerary ...................................................................................................17 Comment by Don Pilcher....................................................................... 23 Delhi Blue Art Pottery by Carol Ridker...............................................31 The Adena-Hopewell Earthworks by Alan Fomorin..................36 A Gas Kiln for the Urban Potter by Bob Bixler..................................39 Clay: Form, Function and Fantasy.......................................................43 Computer Glazes for Stoneware by Harold J. McWhinnie ...................................................................46 The Three Kilns of Ken Ferguson by Clary Illian.............................. 47 Marietta Crafts National........................................................................ 52 Latex Tile Molds by Nancy Skreko Martin..........................................58 Three English Exhibitions...................................................................... 61 News & Retrospect...................................................................................73 Technical ..................................................................................................93 Index to Advertisers................................................................................ 98 Cover Glazed porcelain canister, thrown, with pulled handle and fluted wall, by Joe Zeller, Athens, Ohio. This potter was one of 132 craft artists accepted in the recent Marietta College Crafts National Exhibition. Other works from this show are presented beginning on page 52. Publisher and Acting Editor: Spencer L. Davis Managing Editor: William C. Hunt Art Director: Robert L. Creager Copy Editor: Barbara Harmer Tipton Assistant Editor: Carol Lefebvre Hagelee Circulation Manager: Mary Rushley Advertising Manager: Connie Belcher Editorial, Advertising, and Circulation Offices: 1609 Northwest Blvd., P.O. Box 12448, Columbus, Ohio 43212. (614) 488-8236 West Coast Advertising Representative: Joseph Mervish Asso­ ciates, 4721 Laurel Canyon, Suite 211, North Hollywood, California 91607. (213) 877-7556 Copyright ©1980 Professional Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Ceramics Monthly (ISSN 009-0328) is published monthly except July and August by Professional Publications, Inc.— S. L. Davis, Pres.; P. S. Emery, Sec.: 1609 Northwest Blvd., Columbus, Ohio 43212. Correspondence concerning subscriptions, renewals and change of address should be mailed to the Circulation Department, Ceramics Monthly, Box 12448, Columbus, Ohio 43212. Second Class postage paid at Athens, Ohio, u.s.a. Subscriptions: One year $12; Two years $22; Three years $30. Add $2 per year outsideu.s.a. The articles in each issue of Ceramics Monthly are indexed in the Art Index. Microfische, 16mm and 35mm microfilm copies, and xerographic reprints are available to subscribers from University Microfilms, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106. Manuscripts, photographs, color separations, color transparencies, graphic illustrations'and news releases dealing with ceramic art are welcome and will be considered for publication. A booklet is available without cost to potential authors, describing procedures for the preparation and submission of a manuscript. Send manuscripts and correspondence about them to The Editor, Ceramics Monthly,Box 12448, Columbus, Ohio 43212. March 1980 5 Letters JANUARY ISSUE tainer with a beveled lip—the rim and the In the “1979 Beaux Arts Exhibition,” interior wall should form an acute angle. the jurors ask [concerning the “many good Pull the spout from the pitcher lip with a functional potters who never send to gentle back-and-forth motion, bringing it shows”], is this “romantic retreatism?” out in a smooth curve until it is parallel to The only people who find romance in the base of the pot. The beveled rim being potters are college students who should cut the flow of liquid when the don’t understand what actually happenspitcher is righted after pouring. out there in the real world. This romance Robert Barrie nonsense is perpetrated by teachers who New York City do not earn a living making and selling objects. Professional pride is something you pay your dues for; the people who haven’t DECEMBER ISSUE see absurd images of quiet country life, “A Potter’s Tax Reminder” was excel­ etc., and call it romance. lent. In an age such as the one we live in The issue of retreating is much more today, information on tax laws, deductions, important. Those potters who throw, glaze, insurance, for the artist/craftsman are all fire and sell that “river of pottery” are nottoo important but are, for the most part, retreating, they are going in a different overlooked even in our colleges and uni­ direction. Is Val Cushing guilty of “ro­ versities right on to the graduate levels. mantic retreatism” for not participating in Thomas F. Morrissey the Rhinebeck fair? Certainly not; his ca­ Lincoln, R.I. reer choices make marketing events of that nature irrelevant, just as those “river of FAENZA RESPONSE pottery” potters have found that shows like I am surprised at one aspect of the the 1979 Beaux Arts Exhibition are irrele­ article concerning the “Faenza Interna­ vant to what they do. While I have the tional Exhibition” in the December issue. utmost respect for Val Cushing, Lenore As one of the prizewinners (premio Davis, and Albert Paley, I confess that Iacquisto) in the 1979 competition, I think am astounded at their collective lack of I am at least entitled to have my name perception. The gap between those persons printed as one of the winners. Instead of who teach and show, and those who make this, I am not even mentioned. Is it pos­ and sell is ever widening. Neither is a bet­ sible that Karen Rychlewski does not like ter course, but to ignore the differences sculptural ceramics ? will certainly cause even more misunder­ Patrick Van Hoeydonck standings in the future. Peter L. Land Wijnegem, Belgium Canaan, N.H. Karen Rychlewski’s remarks to the effect BUTTER SUGGESTION CREAMED that the pottery of Vivika and Otto Heino I am appalled that CM paid money toin the 37th Faenza International Exhibi­ Faith Symes for her suggestion of render­ tion of Artistic Ceramics did not measure ing a faulty pitcher dripless by dabbing up to her expectations of “contemporary butter under the spout’s edge. Probably no experimental trends” is a rather typical, other potter ever sent this suggestion, be­ and unfortunate, attitude of those who cause most strive for quality craftsmanship glorify at any price the flamboyant and in their ceramics and would never use ostentatious. this ancient, common household remedy Good art is not something that exists in which hides the disease but doesn’t cure the world of tradition or experiment; it the illness. exists only in the honesty and integrity of I destroy any piece which doesn’t meet the artist’s work. I believe that is why the quality; I don’t want any archaeologistHeinos’ work was selected for this exhibi­ 300 years hence digging up an inferior pot tion. Derek Marshall with my name on it, only to proclaim San Diego craftsmen of the 20th century were primi­ tive and technological idiots. SUBSCRIBERS' COMMENTS If you want a truly dripless spout, incise Please stay within the craft—there are a small groove from the outside edge of too many “fine art/craft” magazines. the spout about half an inch in length, and Jacqueline Weaver puncture a tiny hole from the bottom of New York City the groove to the inside of the vessel. Better yet, throw a perfect spout that Let’s see more of the art and craft and doesn’t drip. Those are my suggestions and less of the “yak.”William Consolazio they’re absolutely free. Brookville, Fla. Let’s have excellence in craftsmanship and leave butter to the chefs. More funk! Judith Beck Sharon Faith Collins Lancaster, Pa. Sea Cliff, N.Y. Share your thoughts with other readers. Dripless spouts are possible without re­ All letters must be signed, but names sorting to such shoddy tactics as butter. will be withheld on request. Address: The (Funny, I’ve always heard it as “noseEditor, Ceramics Monthly, Box 12448, grease.”) For a dripless pot, throw a con­ Columbus, Ohio 43212. March 1980 7 Answers to Questions Conducted by the CM Technical Staff Recently I have been plagued with sporadic bloating in my Would it be possible to provide a recipe for Egyptian paste that Cone 9 oxidation stoneware clay body (50 parts Goldart, 30 can be measured by volume?—K.U. fireclay, 10 ball clay, 10 Custer feldspar and 2 red iron oxide). A simply formulated volume recipe for a self-glazing body I've heard that sulphur might be the problem, but I’ve used this appeared in the January1962 issue of Ceramics Monthly and body for years without difficulties; it throws well and has an is adapted below: attractive fired color. Can you suggest ways I might prevent EGYPTIAN PASTE (Cone 08-04) bloating and thus continue with the same clay recipe?—L.M. Bentonite ..........................................................................8 teaspoons The sulphur content in Goldart (as well as in other