Wall Art: The Treasurer, a natured inspired pottery

This nature inspired Pottery Piece was designed by me while I was studying under Carol Gouthro. She was both impressed and concerned about the idea, but she assisted me with the technical details involved in creating it. She also helped troubleshoot potential complications throughout the process.

The concept originated from nature. During hikes or strolls, I had a habit of collecting stones, fallen branches, and seed pods like a child. I thought it would be a great idea to create something to display these treasures as part of the installation. Inspired by the views and landscapes around me, I wanted to incorporate elements of moss, the sea, sunsets, and trails into this piece, so I experimented with it.

The design was intended to include two elements: a rack system for organizing collectibles and a handcrafted porcelain vase for lighting, symbolizing the sun.

It also illustrates how our mind takes in a large quantity of chaotic information, symbolized by the base piece with various natural elements and forms, which then inspires us to develop a more insightful product or system, represented by the element of light.

Img 2, Placing a Cedar rose cone on The Treasurer Wall art

The first challenge we encountered was keeping a large flat clay slab intact, as anyone familiar with pottery and hand-building knows that clay shrinks. If a large flat slab dries unevenly, it may crack. Our goal was to ensure even drying and allow the pieces to move so that the clay particles could shrink together.

Carol advised that to achieve these conditions, we should cover the piece with newspaper and plastic covers, and finish it directly on the kiln rack with a base of newspapers and a layer of sand.

This method worked wonderfully, allowing the piece to dry evenly without cracking. The next challenge was that the piece had some very sharp turns and didn't fit on the kiln shelf, so we decided to make it in two parts, fire them separately, and devise a system to install them together.

After the firing and glazing were completed, the worst occurred: the vase intended to be placed on top of the piece didn't fit, leaving the piece unfinished. Sometimes, despite all the planning, certain things remain incomplete and to be continued...