Chrysalis Creation

WALL SCULPTURE

I create various types of wall sculpture.  Some of it incorporates copper wire or driftwood.  Some of it is called 'raku'.

A word about 'raku'.  The creative process is the same right up until the final firing.  Special glazes are used, and the pieces are fired in an outdoor kiln.  When the piece of pottery is so hot that it is translucent (around 2000 degrees C), it is removed from the kiln with great care, wearing elbow length fire proof gloves and using very long tongs.  It is not unheard of to end up with slightly 'fried' hair from the hot air when 'tonging' a piece of pottery out of the kiln!  The piece is placed on a bed of 'combustible' material (newspaper, sawdust, pine needles, etc.) and immediately covered with a metal pot, waste basket, or even small garbage pail.  The material bursts into flames the minute the pottery touches it.  The trapped fire uses up all the surrounding oxygen, and then it creates changes in the glaze that result in amazing colours … some of which don't even have names!

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