Ceramics

Ceramics class is so much fun !! I made it my Honors class and the Professor and I picked out a project already. I’m going to research a kiln made and fired with native 3rd-world materials.
So far I found a shape that draws the heat across the clay pots fast which heats it even more (!) and I’m pretty amazed about that. The best way to build this shape is to dig it into a hill. But you need clay, sand, loam, be sure to avoid using rocks which will explode in the 2,000 celsius degree heat. Sounds pretty exciting. I plan to make a diorama-type model. Maybe this summer i can try it for reals if I go on the trip to Mata Ortiz.
That’s in Mexico and has very famous potters. Who knew?
So, evidently, they have good clay right there in arroyos. Maybe I can dig a kiln and test fire it.
I had an idea to make clay stamps for hobbyists, initials and such. Like the rubber stamps the scrapbookers use. But so far I have made a Mata Ortiz-style pot. And that’s it. So far. Here’s a pic of the Mata Ortiz demonstration and some of their pots.

Mata Ortiz pottery makers