Marks Kiln Firing

Opening the Kiln

Yesterday I fired my kiln. It cooled overnight and today Jackie and Hilary joined me to see what lay inside. My kiln is a knock down affair but I persevere with it. Those results which I achieved under the more controlled conditions of an electric kiln and with a technician to help me were just so boring. So I screw down the regulator on the gas bottle, look inside for an almost white heat, juggle with the air fuel ratio and plot temperature against time.

Inside the Kiln

For me there are two essential ingredients towards making a piece of Art, an element of unreality and an element of chance. My outfit will certainly guarantee me that element of chance.

We lifted out of the kiln one big hand which I hope will speak for itself. I don’t do pretty. I also hope I shall never try to make another hand in clay. It is an inept material if the fingers are stretched. I shall go back to metal work. I am also trying to develop the ceramic mural like I see in the British Museum. Today’s result is a bit hazy, must try again. My beads all stuck together because my new bead firing rack was not up to the temperature, shall have to make my own. Mark Tilley

Live Brief does Touchwood

On Sunday 3 SAF members, as a part of the Live Brief group, were once again in Touchwood shopping centre. The day, led by Eva Bennett, was used to discuss our forthcoming project relating to Solihull and to learn more about each other and our working methods. Part of this was colouring in wooden spoons as mini versions of ourselves.

Liza Minelli, Chris Evans and Billie Piper on night shift

AKA Maureen, Jackie and Kathryn

The work we finally produced in response to the space was centered around the window area (no one made an offer for the chair and the acupuncture man) and it was fun trying to sketch the shoppers hurrying past us. It was certainly a day which later led to more discussion. Jackie Mackay