Further SEM study (see "microscopy 2") with the sample cut from the wood-fired lid has provided some images that provide novel evidence in support of our current theories regarding the microscopic physical processes that lead to formation of bright red color patches on the surfaces of wood-fired, reduction cooled stoneware clays. After seeing this new… Continue reading microscopy 3
End of season for our first indigo experiment at the O'Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm. The farmers are now going to mow down the row to switch to a cover crop; we collected some seeds that had already set and also put some flower stems aside in a bucket of water to see if they'll… Continue reading fresh indigo (the last of)
I think I need some more distance from all this work before writing about the finished installation piece, but here are some photos I took of the intended arrangement of all the parts. The only space I could access to actually assemble everything is in a corner of our house with obstructed camera angles and… Continue reading installation view
Here are some images from my first electron microscopy session with a sample from the July wood firing at Cobb Mountain Art & Ecology Center. These were all acquired using the Magellan Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) in the Stanford Nano Shared Facilities, and the sample is the same one shown in color optical microscopy images… Continue reading microscopy 2
Earlier this week I was fortunate to be able to work with Isaac Fisher, proprietor of Pachyderm Furniture in Fort Bragg, CA to build some wood pieces for my tokonoma installation concept. Here are the technical drawings I prepared and discussed with Isaac in advance: From left-to-right these are a cantilevered frame, platform and pedestal.… Continue reading woodwork
Yesterday I started doing some survey optical microscopy to help select a sample or two to prepare for electron microscopy. It tends to work best to start with a piece that's already relatively flat, so I immediately thought about the top surface of the lid of this container: The above photos were just taken with… Continue reading microscopy 1
We unloaded the kiln train yesterday and it was a great firing! Below is a gallery of photos of some of the pots, and at the end of this post I feature one that might be my choice for the tokonoma installation. It is a bit on the small side for what I had in… Continue reading fired pots
This week I was fortunate to be able to fire a number of candidate ceramic pieces for my BMAI project in a wood-burning "train" kiln at the Cobb Mountain Art & Ecology Center (@cobbartandecology). There were just two of us sharing the kiln space and the work of the firing -- me and my friend… Continue reading firing
Back in March the good folks over at the O'Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm helped me start some indigo seedlings (two trays of 72 each), and then during the COVID shutdown Allison and Will transplanted them to a row out in the garden and tended them all the way to harvest! The photos below show… Continue reading processing plants
In recent weeks, since finishing the textile component of this work, I've had a new idea about how to bring the whole thing together. Last post I mentioned reading about shinto as I had been thinking about framing the entire piece as a sort of small shrine. Now however, wanting to feature the indigo shibori… Continue reading tokonoma
Intermateriality:Redox 