This week in the studio was spent doing my senior project. I am a high schools senior at Mesa Valley Vision Home and Community Program. They encourage all of their seniors to do a demonstration on something that has been a hobby or has impacted them throughout their high school career. I did a raku and throwing demonstration for my senior project. I had everyone meet at the Art Center. I pulled all of the raku work by myself, but some of the ladies from my class helped with the trash can lids. After the first load was pulled I described to the audience the history of raku and the different processes. Next I gave a glazing demonstration. The vase I glazed in a white crackle raku glaze with brush work in various slips and stains. I created a pottery portfolio with pictures of the first piece I made to my latest work. The next load was ready to come out of the kiln. I then removed the pieces out of the trash cans and prepared the cans with new paper, gaskets, and wood chips, then proceeded to pull the remaining three pieces. All of the pieces turned out beautifully. I then did a presentation on wedging clay and how to throw a vase. At the end of my presentation I had everyone write their name on a piece of paper and I auctioned off one of the vases I fired that day. Jill Hatten, a home school mom and RC at Mesa Valley Vision, won the vase. I also gave a butterfly dolphin luster vase to my RC Candace. They both loved them. Lexi Downs, a senior in Mesa Valley Vision, did her senior project on Celtic dancing the same day I did mine. Her dance group was fun to watch and described the technique and history. The dance and pottery was a magnificent combination and captured the crowd perfectly.
Sorry my post is so late. I was having some technical difficulties and haven't been able to post lately.
