Friday, June 28, 2013

TORNADO IN A TEACUP

Given the weather in our region and elsewhere recently, including some severe flooding through Herkimer County today, I though a somewhat weather related post a bit apropos. Illustrated is a teacup loosely based on the funnel like structure of a tornado thrown in porcelain. This cup and saucer were glazed in Shino and ash and during the firing areas of the piece manifested some rich, black to dusty grey carbon trapping. Having seen a tornado in person in Cleveland, Ohio of all places, the form became of interest to me and over the years I have made a variety of "tornado-ware" including; cups, mugs, pitchers and covered jars in a wide variety of glazes as well as wood, salt and soda fired. The saucer was thrown off the hump and just a bit wonky to try to best match the attitude of the cup, sort of like a hubcap that had been through the effects of a tornado.
"Nature creates ability, luck provides it with opportunity."  Francois de La Rochefoucauld