Rochester Institute of Technology
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Theses
Thesis/Dissertation Collections
5-31-1989
The spirit in which it is made
Harry Michael Welsch
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Recommended Citation
ROCHESTER
INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY
A
Thesis
Submitted
to
the
Faculty
ofThe
College
ofFine
andApplied
Arts
in
Candidacy
for
the
Degree
ofMASTER OF
FINE
ARTS
'THE
SPIRIT
IN
WHICH
IT
IS
MADE"BY
Dedication
This
thesis
andbody
of workis
dedicated
to
All
the
nameless potters whohave
made
-What
they
want
-because
they
wantedto
-and never worried about
the
message
-it
wasthere
allalong
andthey
knew
it!
And
to
my
wife,Kim.
. .
-who
for
three
yearshas
workedin
apoorly
lit,
damp
basement
studiofor
too
many
hours;
has
waitedup
too
late
for
me
too
many
nights; andhas
been
a source of constantencouragement
through
it
all!I
wishto
expressmy
thanks
and appreciationto
the
following
individuals
:Bob
Schmits
andRick Hirsch
-whose aesthetic
judgement
andtechnical
advicehas
helped
my
workto
grow morein
the
pastthree
yearsthan
I
thought
possible.Mark
Stanitz
-a constant source of encouragement
for
my
workin
metals.
He
is
one ofthe
most positiveteachers
I
have
everseen with a student.
And
to
my
fellow
graduate students-for
their
on-going
encouragement,
ideas,
criticism,
friendship,
bad
jokes,
free
cocoa,
andeverything
elsethat
has
madethis
experience apositive one
for
me.Preface
Because
I
believe
my
work speaksfor
itself
and needslittle
defense,
this
thesis
is
primarily
descriptive
in
nature.I
feel
that
the
functional
format
canbe
the
basis
for
a validaesthetic
statement',
andthat
it
is
aspotentially
expressive asany
otherformat
in
clay.I
indicated
in
my
thesis
statementthat
I
would create abody
offunctional
workthat
wouldconvey
a sense of
energy,
movement,
andvitality
through
the
exploration of
form,
surfacetreatment,
andhigh-fire
techniques.
With
my
greatest stridesbeing
in
the
development
ofform,
Table
ofContent:
Chapter
Page
Influences
1
A
Functional
Aesthetic
3
The
Importance
ofForm
5
Wood
Firing
7
Technical
Data
9
A.
Sawdust
Injection
System
10
B.
Typical
Stoking
andFiring
Cycle
11
C.
Kiln
Information
11
D.
Clay
andGlaze
Data
13
Glazes
15
Conclusion
16
THE
SPIRIT
IN
WHICH
IT
IS
MADE
Influences
Because
I
am selftaught,
my
early
workdeveloped
in
the
isolation
ofthe
production studio.My
only sources ofinfluence
weremonthly
publications, alimited
number oftext
books,
and sporadic contact with other potters at artfairs.
I
had
noteacher
to
guidemy
development
-only
my
personalaesthetic.
I
have
neverbeen
attractedto
any
ofthe
classicaloriental or
Mediterranean
shapes so oftenimitated.
But
it
wasMalraux
that
noted".
. .Whenever artistshave
been
great,
they
have
transfigured
the
forms
they
have
inherited"(8:83).
Since
my
early
work centered aroundfunction,
I
believe
it
evolved
along
the
Bauhaus
tradition
ofform
following
function
(
althoughI
had
neverheard
ofthe
Bauhaus
before
coming
to
the
university).
It
also never occurredto
meto
expressanything
else
in
clay
beyond
function.
The
only
"aesthetic"
I
had
wascraftsmanship.
I
have
cometo
see,
however,
that
craftsmanship
is
not an aestheticbut
only
a channelalong
whichthe
creativity of
the
artistflows.
It
is
just
a meansto
anend,
I
wastrained
as a chemist.I
had
no arttraining,
soI
cannot point
to
any
teacher
who encouragedme;
there
was noartist or sculptor whose work moved
me,
nor wasI
constantlyplaying
in
the
mud as a child,I
simply
do
notknow
how
I
arrived at
this
point.Michael
Cardew,
when askedhow
he
became
a
potter,
replied"I
simply
wasn'tgood
atanything
else!"
(4:XIV).
Maybe
that
is
it.
Since
beginning
my
studies atR.I.T.,
I
have
been
madeaware of
many
clay
artists with whomI
feel
akinship,
althoughI
cannotsay
I
workin their
style.I
have
great respectfor
the
simpleforms
ofthe
wood-firedBisen
andShigaraki
ware.Voulkos'
handling
ofthe
materialleaves
little
doubt
he
is
working
withclay
andits
potentially
dynamic
nature.John
Glick"
s absolute
craftsmanship
of each objectis
something
I
strive
for
in
my
own work.All
these
things
were pushedto
the
limit
by
anindividual
that
I
identify
with morethan
any
other...
George
Ohr
(1:76).
I
admirehim
for
his
spirit andcourage
to
fly
in
the
face
of"conventional
work"of
the
time,
as well as
his
readinessto
pushhis
forms
and glazesbeyond
the
accepted norms
(5:31).
A
Functional
Aesthetic
With
today's
strong
emphasis on non-functional work,I
sometimes
feel
I,
like
George
Ohr,
am alsomoving
somewhatagainst
the
norm.I
have
cometo
seethat
function
can allowfor
an aestheticthat
is
valid,
important,
and meaningful withthe
possibi 1
ity
of expressing
a range of emotions orintellectual
ideas.
I
believe
this
expressivequality
startswith
the
force
and conviction ofthe
maker and whenthere
is
clarity
ofintent
in
the
work(3:14).
A
viewer/user withsufficient
knowledge
can"read"
or react
to
afunctional
piecewith
just
as much emotion asthey
wouldto
apainting
orsculpture.
In
orderfor
functional
wareto
be
a work ofart,
it
mustbe
ableto
operate on anotherlevel
beyond
merefunction.
The
potter/artist must not
only
present an objectthat
actually
functions,
but
must also communicate someemotional,
intellectual,
or philosophicalidea
to
the
viewer/user.This
can
be
accomplishedin
a multitude of ways.One
way
ofexpressing
thoughts
orfeelings
in
artis
to
communicatethem
metaphorically.
Many
ancient civilizations usedfigures
of women asmetaphors
in
their
ceramic workto
evoke a sense ofnurturing,
fertility,
and other characteristicsthat
may
have
been
[image:10.613.62.555.133.717.2]continues
today
among
many
contemporary
artists.Kris
Nelson,
one of
my
first
instructors
atR.
I.T.,
made use ofthe
human
figure
in
his
workby
extending
the
relationshipbetween
the
pieces of
his
tea
and coffee setsto
human
relationships.In
additionto
this
modern use ofthe
human
figure
asmetaphor,
many
potters,
such asWayne
Higby,
chooseto
usetheir
vessels as a means of
addressing
moreformal
issues.
Perspective
andthe
exploration of space, which canbe
seenin
Higby'
s
bowls,
aretwo
common areas ofinterest
andinterpretation
(see
plateII).
To
keep
their
workfrom
becoming
vague orconfused,
pottersmust not
let
the
metaphorical componentsthey
useinterfere
withthe
functional
context ofthe
piecesthey
create."Should
I
useit
orjust
look
atit?,
"is
one question often askedthat
indicates
alack
ofclarity
onthe
part ofthe
maker.To
actually use one of
Wayne
Higby' sbowls
would ruinthe
perspective, so
the
reference wouldthen
be
lost.
One
musttherefore
questionhis
use of afunctional
format
as astarting
point.
Furthermore,
the
symbols chosen mustbe
more universalthan
personal;if
the
icons
are so personalthey
have
little
meaning
for
anyonebut
the
artist,
why
even exhibitthe
work?The
functional
potter must avoidconfusing
metaphors andpersonal symbolism
that
have
no universalmeaning
orhe/she
may
run
the
risk of creating workthat
is
ambivalent.As
far
asI
am concerned,
if
a personis
not sure of whatto
do
with apiece,
the
workis
non-functional.By
extending
my
workbeyond
merefunction
and evoking anemotional or
intellectual
responsethrough
form,
texture,
andcolor,
my
intent
is
to
produce workthat
a person can relateto
both
physically
and conceptually.The
Importance
ofForm
I
have
always attemptedto
useform
symbolically
withlittle
ornamentation.By
concentrating
on surfacetexture,
color,
and structuraldesign,
I
have
tried
to
keep
my
forms
appeal
ingly
simple.I
try
to
make workthat
canbe
seenin
both
a
formal
sense as well as metaphorical one.By
expanding
the
volume of all
my
forms
with asweeping
gesture,
a visualmovement
is
created which affectsthe
spacethe
vessels occupy.This
moving,
spiralgesture,
whichis
likely
an offshoot ofmy
interest
in
science and naturalhistory,
canbe
interpreted
metaphorically as growth.
I
wantmy
workto
seem alive offthe
wheel as
it
did
whenI
madeit.
I
wantthe
workto
flow
like
the
constant ebb andflow
of natural elementsin
nature(see
plate
III).
I
have
elevatedmy
work withfeet
notto
makethem
ceremonial,
but
to
show an attitude-something
less
formal
than
a vertical orientation, which reflects
my
whole attitude aboutart
(see
plateIV).
I
believe
we all arefar
too
serious aboutprovoking.
I
feel
my
referencesto
nature are strongestin
the
structure
and articulation ofmy
handles.
Formally,
I
am,
ofcourse,
concerned aboutthe
negative spacemy
handles
create andthe
visualtension developed
in
the
building
ofthem
(see
platesIV
andV).
By
alluding
to
bone
orbranch
in
the
construction ofthe
handle
forms,
I
ammaking
referenceto
something
that
everyone sees as a natural
bridge
or connection.The
articulation of
these
handles
is
of absoluteimportance
to
the
uninterrupted
flow
ofthe
pieces.Metaphorically,
this
unchanged
flow
in
my
workis,
for
me,
symbolic ofthe
dynamic
nature of
the
materialitself.
I
feel
it
is
ofthe
utmostimportance
that
the
nature and process ofthe
materialbe
preserved
(see
platesVI
andVII).
My
bowls
have
soft,
sculpted edgesto
easethe
transition
from
the
outsideto
the
inside
ofthe
piece.The
interiors
arewhite
to
formally
divide
them
from
the
outside(food
alsolooks
better
againstwhite),
but
the
glazeshave
been
formulated
to
produce a
third
color wherethey
meetto
further
facilitate
the
uniting
ofthe
outside withthe
inside.
The
sides ofthe
bowls
are pushed
in
to
function
both
ashandles
andto
alterthe
interior;
in
this
way
the
outside andinside
are againformally
connected.
All
ofthe
rims arehollow
tubes
thrown
in
place and allowme
to
givethe
appearance of mass andsolidity
withoutthe
problem of excess weight
(see
plateVIII).
This
also affords memore material
to
sculpt and move.Throughout,
I
have
attemptedto
bring
a robust and vigorous approachto
porcelain which,in
the
past,
has
usually
been
associated with stoneware.
Metaphorically,
this
approach representsthe
growthI
seein
nature.
Because
porcelain provides abetter
base
for
a more vibrantcolor response
than
stoneware,
my
workis
now more colorful.As
just
mentioned,
I
also use colorto
separateinside
from
outside.
The
colors arebright,
but,
through
the
use of satinglazes,
the
feeling
is
inviting,
sensual,
andless
formal
The
colors also
have
tonal
qualities similarto
those
found
in
nature.
It
is
through
these
elements ofform,
stance andattitude,
the
articulation ofhandles,
the
edges ofmy
bowls
andtrays,
and
the
use ofcolor,
that
I
amtrying
to
create arelationship
with
the
viewer/user
that
deals
withintellectual
and visualconcepts rather
than
just
simple utilitarianism.Wood
Firing
I
had
become
rather blase' aboutfiring
my
workbefore
I
cameto
graduate school.
I
had
added adigital
oxygen probe(to
analysethe
kiln
atmosphere)
andit
did
everything
the
manufacturerclaimed
-cut gas costs
(
a reduction of about1/3
)
andgave
consistent results each
time
I
usedit.
A
production potter caneasily
fall
into
the
"trap"
And
"...doing
productionis
like
painting
the
same still-lifein
the
samelight
(10:71).
While
notto
quitethis
extreme,
I
waslooking
for
something
elsein
my
work.As
my
forms
progressed andbecame
moreexpressive,
I
could seethe
gasfirings
lacked
the
same spontaneity.The
woodkiln
has
changedthat
stagnation.Because
the
processis
time
consuming,
I
have
time
to
think
about
my
work asI
amfiring
it.
Most
ofmy
thoughts
in
this
thesis
were writtenduring
early
morning
hours
whenthe
firing
was
just
starting
andthe
pace was slower.Because
so muchlabor
is
invested
in
afiring,
I
am notgoing
to
make workthat
is
not worththe
effort.Ill-conceived
work cannotbe
'"saved"
by
woodfiring.
All
one getsis
aspectacularly
fired
potthat
is
aesthetically
bankrupt.
But
through
carefulstacking
andknowledge
ofthe
kiln,
the
directional
nature ofthe
ashdeposits
andflashing
can enliven analready
strong
form.
Wood
firing
mustbe
an aesthetic experiencebetween
the
artist and
his
orher
work;the
process cannotbe
the
justification
for
the
work.As
Rob
Barnard
remarked,
"Process
appears
to
be
-all
too
often -the
most
important
elementin
contemporary
ceramics, andby
constantlyextending
the
process,
it
is
believed
newlimits
of creativity canbe
(2:38).
The
work musttranscend
the
techniques
and effects.Wood
firing
allows meto
meetthe
pothalf-way,
sincethe
spontaneity
of
the
processdetermines
the
final
result.I
am now once againinterested
in
the
entire process of making pottery.8-Technical
Data
I
seethe
sawdustinjection
system as aheat
sourcerequiring
little
work andutilizing
a potentialfuel
that
is
normally
thrown
out.In
additionto
supplimenting a normal woodfiring,
it
could alsobe
usedto
replace part ofthe
fuel
in
anatural gas or propane
firing
cycle.Heat
is
released quickerfrom
sawdustthan
from
wood piecesdue
to
the
smaller particlesize and
greater
surface areaexposure;
therefore,
the
firing
cycle of
the
woodkiln
canbe
shortenedthree
to
sixhours.
The
injection
of sawdusthas
both
positive and negativepoints.
Aesthetically,
some people might objectto
the
introduction
of a mechanicaldevice
into
alabor
intensive
process.
But
because
I
amonly
trying
to
modify
the
already
glazed surface and not
completely
glazethe
work withash,
I
amcomfortable with
this
compromise.My
intent
is
notto
create anAmerican
Bizen
ware.While
the
quick release ofheat
allowsfor
a shortened
firing
cycle,
saving
both
the
kiln
refractories andthe
artist,the
heat
rises very rapidly!The
ware mustbe
abovequartz
inversion
to
avoiddunting.
Another
fuel
source mustbe
used
to
raisethe
kiln
to
cone08
in
orderfor
the
sawdustto
instantly
combust.Once
cone8
has
been
reached,
one muststop
continue
to
risetoo
rapidly,
allowing
insufficient
time
for
the
glazes
to
melt.The
ability
to
produce sufficient ash effect,the
shortening
ofthe
cycle,
andthe
use of afuel
destined
for
the
land-fill
far
out weighsthe
previously
mentioned objections.A.
Sawdust
Injection System
Beacause
all workto
be
fired
has
already
been
bisqued,
the
initial
stoking
ofthe
kiln
was carried out at a somewhataccelerated pace
for
a woodfiring,
achieving
bisque
temperature
(cone
08)
in
approximately
sixto
sevenhours.
At
this
pointthe
blower
systemis
employedto
inject
sawdust which
instantly
combustsdue
to
the
heat
already
presentin
the
kiln.
The
sawdustis
blown
into
the
kiln
through
the
primary air ports via
two
2
1/2
inch
diameter
flexible,
metalautomobile exhaust
hoses
coupledto
ahigh
volumeblower
(see
illustration).
The
hoses
are movedperiodically
during
the
firing
to
evenlydistribute
heat
and ash asthe
firing
progresses.
Over
athree
hour
period,
approximately
six cubicyards of material
is
blown
into
the
kiln,
thereby
raising
the
temperature
to
cone8.
Normal
stoking
resumes with much smallerpieces
(1"
x
2"
x
8")
until cone10
bends.
B.
Typical Stoking
andFiring
Cycle
Time
0-2
hrs
2-7
hrs
7-10
hrs.
10
-12
hrs
Comments
Fire
in
ash pit.3
large
pieces(1x4x18")
at
15
minuteintervals
Fire
ongrates.
4-6
large
pieces(1x4x18")
at15
minuteintervals
during
hrs.
3-4,
andstoking
every
10
minutesduring
hours
5-7.
Cone
08
reached andinjection
of sawdust
begins.
Next
three
hours
raisestemperature
to
cone8
or9.
Stoking
with small(1x2x48"
or
smaller)
edgingsbegins
at5
minute
intervals
.With
accelerating
pace,
kiln
mustbe
stokedconstantly
until cones10
and11
go
down.
Note
that
dampers
remain set at a
3"
opening
throughout
the
entire cycle.C.
Kiln
Information
Two
chamber climbingkiln
constructedfrom
cast refractorymaterial.
Chamber
#1
~32
cubicfeet
ofstacking
space;Chamber
#2
=20
cubicfeet
ofstacking
space.2)
Wood
Consumption
2/3
face
cordconsisting
of oakpallets,
edgings(1x2
x48")
of
dried
hardwood.
Also
required are6
cubic yards of sawdust-particle size
varying
from
actual wooddust
(less
than
80
mesh)
up
to
shavings1/2"
x
1/2"
of
varying
thickness
derived
from
jointers
and planers.3)
Blower
Dayton
model#
4C
129,
poweredby
1
horse
power,3450
r.p.mmotor.
S\e^
iros(L
-
Vv\^-D<*-1
1
TO?
\j\tVAiD.
Clay
andGlaze
Data
Porcelain
Grolleg
31%
Tile
#6
28%
Custer
17%
Silica
11%
Pyrophyllite
11%
Bentonite
2%
Clay
Mineral
Analysis
29.
Feldspar
Mineral
12%
Clay
Mineral
53. 26%
Quarts
Mineral
17. 26%
Iron
Mineral
.36%
Shrinkage
Wet-To-Dry
6%
Cone
10
Red.
12%
Absorbancv
Cone
10
Red.
1%
Developed
over athree
yearperiod,
this
porcelainhas
been
shown
to
be
well suitedfor
any
type
of construction.With
minimal
precautions,
few
problems were encountered withcracking
during
initial
drying
and slight warpage orslumping
whenfired.
It
wasfound
to
be
sensitiveto
the
pH ofthe
water usedto
makeit.
The
pH of a solutionis
a measure ofits
acidity.It
is
alogarithmic
scaleranging
from
1
(most
acidic)
to
7
(neutral)
to
14
(most
basic).
Tap
wateris
usually
near a pH of7
andis
acceptable
for
use.Hard
water,
however,
containslarge
amountswater's pH
into
the
basic
range;the
pH mustbe
adjustedto
the
acidic range or
the
porcelain willbe
"short".
Water
to
be
usedshould
be
tested
with a wide range pH paper(available
from
mostdrug
stores)
or with methyl red(available
from
any
poolsupply).
The
paperis
dipped
into
the
water and a color changeoccurs
that
is
comparedto
a colorchart;
or afew
drops
ofmethyl red are put
into
the
water,
changing
the
waterfrom
redto
yellowif
the
pH range4
to
6
is
present.Small
amounts of weak acid canbe
addedto
lower
the
pHto
the
properlevel.
Household
vinegar(acetic
acid)
wouldbe
mostreadily
availableto
the
studio potter.One
quart of vinegaris
capable of
lowering
the
pH of5
gallons of waterfrom
7
to
6
.Alcohol
is
acidicbut
greater quantities are needed ofit
to
produce
the
results of vinegar.Caution
mustbe
exercisedbecause
a pHbelow
4
become
too
acidicfor
human
skin-a pH of
3
feels
like
abad
sunburn, andany
lower
produces severeburns.
The
exact mechanismby
whichthe
proper pHincreases
the
clay's plasticity
is
unclear,but
it
does
seemto
actto
reducethe
particle size ofthe
materials.The
vinegar also serves as afood
sourcefor
anaerobicbacteria
that
alsohelp
to
break
down
the
particles ofthe
materials.-14-Glazes
Barium
Mn-ht
Cone
10
Red
Barium
Carbonate
27%
Dolomite
4%
Custer
Feldspar
50%
EPK
9.5%
Silica
9.5%
Colorant
(
green)
Copper
Carbonate
3%
U.K.
Base
Matt
Cone
10
Red.
Custer
32%
EPK
26%
Dolomite
25%
Silica
10%
Whiting
4%
Colemanite
5%
Colorants
Tin
Oxide
(5%)
=White
Rutile
(4%)
= goldCobalt
Carbonate
(1%)
=Blue
Vanadium Pentoxide
(7%)
+Tin
Oxide
(5%)
=Brown/Black
Barium Red/Blue
Matt
Cone
10
Red.
Nephyline
Syanite
57. 5%
Barium Carbonate
26.5%
Silica
7.1%
0M#4
Ball
Caly
6.2%
Lithium
Carbonate
2.7%
Colorant
Copper
Carbonate
(3%)
=Turquoise/Blue
to
Red
Depending
onfiring
Conditions
The
porcelain and all glazes used weremathematically
analyzed
using
Prof.
Schmitz's
"Glaze
Calc.
"
program,
and werefound
to
fall
within acceptablelimits
or were modifiedto
meetConclusion
I
cameto
R. I. T.
afunctional
potter with extensiveabilities and
technical
knowledge,
but
had
nodirection
for
my
skills and much
doubt
aboutthe
relevance ofpottery
beyond
merefunction.
I
am now sureit
is
the
only
workI
wishto
do
andthat
it
is
essentialthat
the
tradition
offunction
be
continued.When
functional
workis
good-really
good-the
reactionis
alwaysspontaneous;
peoplesmile,
andthen
(as
if
greeting
afriend)
reach out and
touch
the
work.They
feel
its
weight,
observeits
color,
andfind
things
aboutit
that,
like
one mightdo
with agood
novel orpoem,
they
canidentify
with.Thus,
"The
concept offunction
-regardless of
how
variedit
may
become
through
personalinterpretation
-is
the
mostmetaphorical of all
because
we can all relateto
it
(9:4).
Bibliography
1.
Blazberg,
Robert.
"George E.
Ohr
-Clay
Prophet
Craft Horizon
38
(Oct.,
1978):
75-84.
2.
Barnard,
Rob.
"Originality
At
All
Costs.
MStudio Potter
II
(1983)
38.
3.
Casson,
Mick.
"Function
andExpression
Studio
Potter
13
(1985)
14-15.
4.
Cardew,
Michael.
Pioneer
Pottery.
New
York:
St.
Martins
Press,
1969.
5
.Clark,
Garth.
American
Ceramics
.New
York:
Abbeville
Press,
1987
6.
Clark,
Garth.
American
Potters.
New
York:
Watson
-Guptill
Pub.,
1987
7.
Hopper,
Robin.
"The
Working
Potter.
Studio
Potter
13
(1985)
25-27.
8.
Malraux,
Andre.
Le
Voix du
Silence
Paris:
Gallimard,
1951.
9.
Rawson,
Philip.
Ceramics.
London:
Oxford
Univ.
Press,
1971
10.
Smith,
Joe.
"Biographical
Sketch
,Mg|
I