Everything Happens

Here we are.  Our nearly completed kiln.
Now that we are cozily ensconced in the strawbale cottage in Knowlesville, the site, of course, of our new kiln.  Meanwhile, burnt.normal church pottery in Florenceville-Bristol has been transformed into a bright and spacious haven--well on its way to becoming a functioning gallery/studio/community art space.  We have done a bang-up job of planning and executing this show in record outlaw time, and it has morphed into a bit of an informal retrospective of Lee's work--we really do have an incredible selection of Lee's work from over the years.  His work looks wonderful in this space, and I continue to marvel at his stunning skill, style and range.  My hundreds of greenware buddhas have been transported there and back and there again, with a high rate of beheadings, sadly, and thus many of them are being fired in the electric kiln, as yet unglazed, to be put on display for purchase prior to their being woodfired.  I have had several more sculpture orders from Toronto which is pretty thrilling.  Lee has been building from sunrise to sunset, working his genius magic, and although our new kiln (Clark-Bourri-gama?) is effectively finished, we will not be firing until after our...

Exhibition Opening

tomorrow

Thursday, November 5th

7pm @ ALMAG Florenceville-Bristol, NB

& 

8pm @ burnt.normal church pottery

Harmony Fire: Woodfired Ceramics by Lee & Yolande Clark

In celebration of the collaborative configurations of partnership, family and community that make our life as woodfiring potters.  

There will be music playing, wine flowing, and hand-made chocolate truffles to savor among other 

delicious things.

And of course, there will be an abundance of gorgeous pottery for admiration and for sale, with prices ranging to suit every budget--Right in time for the gift-giving season.  Local, authentic and one-of-a kind gifts are the best! 

Gallery open hours will be held at ALMAG and at burnt.normal church from 12-5 on Saturdays, from the 5th to the 21st of November, and by appointment.  Please email babycowlickedme@hotmail.com to set up a time for visiting at your convenience. 

We are also offering a 2-day family pottery workshop on the 14th and the 21st of November from 2-4pm both days, at burnt.normal church.  The class, including 2 days of instruction, materials and firing, is $10 per person, and would be suitable for kids or adults or both.  This is a great opportunity to make Christmas ornaments, gifts, or just as a way to relax as the Holiday gears get under way.

In other news: I mentioned Toronto earlier, and I should announce, officially, that we will be at the Toronto One Of A Kind Show from November 26th to December 6th.  We were approached at the Queen West Show by a representative who told us immediately that our work would be perfect at OOKS.  Seeing as this event is one of the most high profile and high quality fine craft and design happenings, we are *very much* looking forward to it!  

Keep checking here and on our website www.clarkwoodfire.com for more details.  

And we hope to see you tomorrow evening.  

Love, 

Yo, Lee & Horus

 

New Kiln

Winter Building

I demonstrate. Gloved hands and pickaxe? Each brick must be scraped clean of old mortar, moss, clay and dirt before it can be used for building. Angela looks over and says You're kidding. I'm not. But there is a meditative quality to it. Chain gang Zen.

The lost boys are back, sleeping in the loft. This house is wonderful. It chuffs along, warm and soft, all bright wood from the huge south window, and even feels ample with tons of guests. Horus is enjoying the dogs and the chickens and the being outside. Freedom. Meow.

Horus' party was a success. Thank you family and friends. This boy who at age one, has attended four Anagama firings, and transformed a hikarigama into an anagama, is now building a Bourry Box Clarkagama.

I have been waking up at 5 am to take some time to do pilates and yoga in the mornings and to keep up with correspondences. Horus is adjusting well to this relatively new routine--he and papa snuggle. Then we feed the chooks, feed the dogs, fetch water from the well, start a fire in the cookstove, make our omelet or dashi.

The Lost Boys are workers extraordinaire. The front porch is nearly a studio, and we just might be able to fire this kiln by the 30th of October, as planned. They will be making

I am looking forward to a workshop that I have organized, upcoming, with Chrysalis House in Fredericton, a centre for Youth in Transition. I will be doing an evening of introducing clay and making bowls at their centre in Fredericton, some discussion on the process and philosophy of woodfiring, and then on the 31st, the girls will come up to Knowlesville to visit, and to fire our new kiln with us--and their own work, of course.

I suppose its a bit of an understatement to say that the physicality of clay really lends itself to getting in The Zone, that place of productive meditation. I feel galvanized by the opportunity to potentially share this feeling with others.

I also crave solitude. I'm itching to set this studio up today, and get back to my practice of buddha-making. I have about 300 buddhas to fire now, and more are forthcoming. It is a happy obsession. I love them. The buddhas I made during the last firing sold immediately. A wonderful lady we met at the TO art crawl bought two at the show, and then called us the next day to come and pick out three more. We set up a mini-show in Phil & Paul's garden. She was sending them to friends. "As messengers" she said, "talismans, gifts that bring peace". It was nice to have my shit validated.

Lee lives, breathes and dreams the kiln design.

It rained, then snowed, now sun and slush.

New Places

If you're free on Sunday the 18th of October, come to Horus' first birthday party in Knowlesville, next to Fallsbrook centre, at 2pm. It will be a kiln-building party; be here if you're interested in learning how to build a small, efficient, woodfiring kiln. Bring gloves, boots and grubby clothes.

Here is our new home--Tegan and Leland's strawbale solar-powered cottage in South Knowlesville.

Our new kiln-site.
Taking measurements.
Kiln plans.

Local Clay

It looks like we might have struck gray. A local guy tipped us off to a clay deposit in a stream across the bridge that runs into the Saint John River...It was rainy yesterday, but we suited up, and headed out to dig. We will be experimenting with this clay in our electric kiln, as well as in our new woodfire box kiln. We will be moving bricks on the truck this week to our new home and site in Knowlesville. It looks promising. A bit sandy, but promising.

Check out a sneak preview of our new website here. Address will be different soon, work in progress.

We are refurbishing the church/studio, and moving tomorrow.

And we have just confirmed a show at the Andrew and Laura McCain Gallery in November. More information soon.

Now Available at the Canadian Guild of Craft Gallery, Montreal

The Canadian Guild of Craft Gallery is a gorgeous space in downtown Montreal, featuring sculpture, paintings, jewellery, fiber arts and ceramic art by leading Canadian fine craft artisans.

Lee's sake cup

Lee's magical teabowl.

Yo's sake cup.

Now Available at Distill Gallery, Toronto

Distill.

Lee's sake bottle.

Yo's buddha.
Yo's sake bottle.