Punctual Friday Update: Plate, Pots, Memorial Show

Unlike last week, where I began a post on Friday and didn't put it up until Monday, this one is actually on time.  I'm going to begin on a low note:

Circled there in red is a crack.  A crack that goes all the way through to the bottom of the plate.  A crack that renders this piece ruined.  This is one of those times where you can't necessarily account for what went wrong.  I don't think this crack was there when I moved it to the firing shelf, which means that I didn't trim/dry it too fast.  However, it is possible that it still wasn't quite dry enough at the time of firing.  Breaking this plate (because, hey, it can't be finished, and breaking stuff is fun, right?) revealed that it was evenly thrown and not unnecessarily thick in the cracked portion, though perhaps a little thicker than it needed to be.  I'd say this plate was pretty evenly 3/8" thick, which is reasonable for a pot this size, although 1/4" would have been a better choice.  The good news is that this was the smallest of the three large plates shown here.

So that's what I walked into the studio on Tuesday night to discover, and it kind of soured me on pottery for the week, but I still put in a decent effort on producing some more new work.  I failed to get any photos for most of the week, which included throwing and trimming some large white bowls, throwing a half-dozen nice-sized vases/jars, and recycled 25 pounds of clay.

I didn't take any pictures of the recycled clay, as exciting as that may have been for you.  Here are the pictures I got last night:

Jars/vases waiting for some decoration, and another baby vase.

 Mountain pots - if I figure out how to glaze them, I think they'll be sweet.

So, that's what I've been working on this week.  I think I'm stoked about these new designs.  I think I'll be applying them to more pots, after I make said pots, with said recycled clay.  Maybe some little mountain tumblers? 

One more thing before I sign off for the weekend - if you find yourself in the tri-state(IA/MN/WI) area anytime before November 1st, do yourself a favor and swing by Decorah to see Life's Work: The Tim Langholz Memorial Show on exhibit at the Hotel Winneshiek.  Tim was an amazing gifted potter, and my uncle, whom I wrote about here.  The opening is this weekend, and what I wouldn't give to be there.  I think that's about all I can say about it here, and right now.  Check out the above links for more about Tim.

Tim at work.