The end of Summer

I am back home from Penland.

It's time to start working.

Overdue (or just pastdue)

These are a couple of cups I made from Michael Kline's last kiln firing

Below are some pictures of a few pieces I had in the Animal themed show I had with photographer Tammy Mercure

At the table we had swine sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, rabbit food, blue chips and lemonade.

Love, John

Penland continued...

Well, I have been on the mountain a full week now and things are going well. I've met some pretty great people and had some good times. I gave a slide show last Tues. and things went alright I guess, it was my first slideshow so I was a little nervous. In the pot shop we are rakuing and I think I have removed (or canceled out?) 5 to 7 years from my life. That stuff is like mustard gas! It also completely saturates your clothes with the raku smoke stank. It is a very distinct scent. Its the kind of scent that makes you want to wake up in the middle of the night and smell your t-shirt, then punch yourself in the throat, and splather ferric chloride on your pillow.



Next Session: Posey Bacapaulos-Majolica- Cone 05 and 1/2



I am going to start taking pictures to document all the madness.



Then the final session for me is Jack Troy.



I've got 5 more weeks left up on this mountain and I miss my darlin' girl, wears them sevens on her sleeve, dances like a diamond star, tells me lies I love to believe. Her age is always 22, laughin eyes a hazel hue, spends my money like water falls, loves me like I want her to. Loves me like I want her to.

The show was a success!  I sold several pieces and there was plenty of schmoozing to boot.  More importantly, the Blue Plum Festival was in full gear.  People filled the streets of downtown Johnson City, three stages were set up with some great bands, and there were funnel cakes.On Saturday afternoon I pulled out the lawn chair, propped up my feet, and watched cornholing for about 2 hours.  I have a lot of practicing to do before next year...did I mention funnel cakes?

The pot shop is now buzzing.  I am teaching a special topics summer course called "intro to wood-firing".  We are gonna fire the Hogagama and the cross-draft wood/salt kiln.  It has turned out to be an interesting and diverse class.  They are making some pretty exciting work!  I have never fired a kiln with such primo wood, we have several bundles of kiln-dried stickers from peerless wood working in Bristol.  Its all hardwood with "less than 9% moisture".  So over the last few days I drug out ye olde saw buck and fired up mandy(chainsaw).  Load, Saw, stack, repeat.  I hope we have a good firing.

July 5th I head up to Penland School of Craft, I will be there until Aug. 16th or so.  I am assisting 3 sessions in upper clay and am pumped about it!  Beware the Wookies.

Animal Show

This weekend is the Blue Plum Festival in Downtown Johnson City.  I have a themed exhibition going on at the tipton gallery with photographer Tammy Mercure.  Opening reception is at 6pm.  Also on saturday at highnoon the cornholing tourny starts.  Google CornHoling.  First place team gets 200 bucks!