[Clayart] humidity

[Kathy Forer]

I am draping in muslin pillowcases now as I work! It lets me take pauses
while working and gives some grace to the swiftly sailing weather
imperative.

A great claybox is an old bathtub. Also a refrigerator on its back.

A moth once laid eggs deep in the gas control assembly of my direct vent
furnace, way past the burners.

Thank you for everything!

Kathy Forer

On Tue, Mar 7, 2023 at 7:51 AM mel jacobson <melpots at mail.com> wrote:

> In many ways sheet plastic wrapped around sculptures has the opposite
> affect.
> The water migrates to the plastic like a rain forest and drips back onto
> the
> piece.  A big tent of plastic over a bunch of pots is one thing. wrapping
> wet
> clay, may be the wrong thing.
>
> I met an amazing sculptor from Germany a few years back. She made lovely
> large
> figures. Arms outstretched etc. She wrapped her sculptures in linen as she
> worked.
> yes, a natural fiber cloth. It works like a charm.
>
> When I went to Mata Ortiz some of the potters where having trouble with
> big pots
> cracking. You know, those wedding pots, two pots put together with a
> strap. Each pot
> was bigger than a basketball.
>
> I made a simple grid of 2x4's in one fellows back yard. About 6'x 8'. I
> had him
> place the pots upside down, and cover each pot with cotton t shirt fabric,
> and in
> some cases just used old t shirts with the neck pinned closed. He would
> pull out one
> at a time and work on burnishing
> and decor ideas, then let the entire group dry in the shade, on the grid
> with fabric
> covers. It totally solved their problem.
>
> When there, you do not tell those Mexican potters how to make pots. Mouth
> shut and admire.
> But I saw big pots on beds, under tables. Those pots sell for thousands of
> dollars and they
> made one big mistake. Plastic.  I had the translator talk to them about
> "potters problemos".
> We all have technical problems and that we share.
>
> I got an email about six months later...it just said, "tell the big gringo
> to come to mata ortiz
> and see us, no cracking pots. thanks". nice.
>
> I bet many of you laughed when you saw old refrigerators in potters
> studios, for three D work they'
> are wonderful. And some potters use plastic tubs with tight covers. get
> them at garage sales.
> I use thin sheet plastic with dozens of small holes punched in it. slow
> drying. it works.
>
> The plastic sheet and a plastic bucket changed the work of potters in a
> most dramatic way.
> Maybe the biggest change in the history of making pots. But, one size does
> not fit all things.
> mel
>
>
>
> website: www.melpots.com
> www.melpots.com/CLAYART.HTML
>
>
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