I had sent some pictures of my fences that enclose my backyard to a friend and since they were in my "update" folder on my desktop, I figured I might as well show them to you as well. I installed this redwood fence in 1988 and it is just as straight and true as when I created it. Of course, the wood doesn't touch the ground and the entire fence is up on steel that is set in 4' deep concrete pillars, the fasteners are stainless and the closer and opening mechanisms are all brass and copper. It is a 100-year fence.
In 1988, it cost $55 a foot in materials and took 5.5 hours per foot to install.
This fence is different as it is all treated lumber. Once again, the entire fence is up on steel and the fasteners are hot dipped and stainless. Actually, I really enjoy making a fence, but the gates are what are really special. The gates are wood on steel frames and jams so they will never go out of square and drag or fail to close. All the hinges are sex hinges with grease fittings and all the lock mechanisms are brass or copper. What are real cool are the locking mechanisms. All the opening and locking devices are cryptic. No keys, you just have to know how to open them. Some involve two hands in different places and a proper sequence to open or lock.
Here is a recent sculpture entitled "Damn!".
I am standing on a bathroom scale that has a flashing red light in the scale.
Here is the next sculpture in the series. It will be titled "Carl- with attachments".
A friend and collector from outside Chicago, Peter Poshepny and his son, Mark, stopped by the studio and we spent the day touring the city. It was great fun.
This Venom Pot has gone through a dramatic transformation. It used to be bright red.
I did not reglaze the inside for fear of loosing the bright yellow venom dripping down the inside of the piece.
If you follow my site, you have no doubt seem my "Black Hole" bowls, "Saturn Chip and Dip" plates and "Hubble" images. Here is the biggest of those pieces and I call it "The View From Hubble". Here it is in the process of being glazed...
when it was still cooling in the kiln...
and on my wall. I was going to take this up to the WPA show, but since the foot had a few problems, I decided to not sell it as a second and keep it on my wall. The plate itself is fine, but the foot has a few problems. Looks great on the wall.
Here are a few recent pieces that I took up to the WPA show in late August. When I first saw this pale green Dragonfly pot come out of the kiln, I was surprised since this is my jade glaze and I sprayed a blue glaze on top of the jade. I was surprised, but boy do I love it!
It is an example of high contrast. For the last year, I have been thinking, "high contrast, high contrast, high contrast" when I was glazing. Here it is and I like the drama of the high contrast green reeds and blue water with the jumping fish.
Here is another of my best pieces. Betty Fry from Iowa set her sights on this piece when it was shown on previous updates as I was working on it. I kept it aside for her and she picked it up at the WPA show. If YOU see something on my site that you might be interested in, please email me at tim@newartpottery.com. I love to hear from you whether you are interested in buying or not.
The organizers of the WPA show set up a wonderful display showing the diversity of Wisconsin area potteries and the work of contemporary pots in the area. "Central North American Art Pottery" might be a more appropriate title.
Here is a sampling of Eric Olson's Common Ground Pottery. Have no fear if you click this link, as you read this, Eric is working at getting the pottery up and running again. He took a break for a year- click to read his adventures-, but will be back soon.
Wonderful Door Pottery.
Here are the previously mentioned John and Betty Fry.
This most astounding pottery display was Arnie Small's. I don't think it is all his, but WOW what an effort. What a collection!
He had this particularly beautiful Pillin plate beautifully mounted.
I always wanted to meet Laura Klein who is a designer for Ephraim Pottery and Bur Oak Pottery.
Below is a random photo of the WPA show. As you can see, attendance was... was... well lets say "sparse". It is suffering the same fate as any number of art and antique shows. Lets not even consider the general economic situation of the world's economy. The real problem are shows that require you to travel to view primarily one collectable- like say art pottery. The Pottery Lovers in Ohio has the same dilemma. Folks turn to the Internet to shop and there just are no young people at these shows. It does not bode well.
I did finally receive an invite from Bruce Johnson to do the GPI show after I perstered him for a few years, but the invite came a couple of weeks late. I had just committed to a few new projects that will keep me busy to the end of the year. I would not have enough pots to do the show justice. I reluctantly had to decline. Hopefully, he will consider me for 2012.
And please check out my gallery on vasefinder as I did post some new work.
Pictured below is a little home project in my backyard. I am building a Greek Temple Ruin out of 1/2" steel bar. It is a trellis for a wayward wisteria. Right now I am building the top of the ruin. Stay tuned to see how it turns out...
