installation.

How I plan on spending my summer...

http://www.petedungey.com/2009_02/project_pages/pothole_gardens.php

weekend activities.

I managed to get out of the apartment for a bit on Sunday to get a few homework assignments done and enjoy the perks of volunteering at the science museum.

Last week for Valentine's day, Brent and I were going to go to omnifest, but due to lack of planning ahead, they were sold out. So we took a raincheck and saw two films on Sunday instead. If you volunteer a certain number of hours at the museum, they send you omnifilm tickets and museum passes, so it was a cheap date!

I also saw my element panel in the flesh! Over the summer, I was writing for the Science Buzz website, and one of my posts was picked to become a panel in the museum. Exciting!

Homework for my photo class...

And of course, more pinch pots.

studio update.

Finally some pictures of the studio... For the past month, I've been working on a plate project. I'm hoping to make a wall piece based on a particle collision (you can see my inspiration if you click on the picture below- it's the black and white picture hanging on the back wall). I've thrown over 90 pounds of clay, making 20+ plates that measure 11 inches across. I'll only use 16 for the wall piece, but I made extra in case I screw up somewhere in the process.

Here's my studio space. I need to create some sort of pillow to put over the air valve behind my wheel, its about an inch away from my head and I'm semi-afraid I'll crack my head open one day.

The beginning of trimming the feet of the plates. The pile of trimmings at the end of the day completely covered the front of my wheel.

A few plates drying. Also, I covered a crocheted a circle and then dipped it in casting slip - its hanging to dry in the front of this picture.

Different stages of drying - the plates on the left were part of the first round. They're slipped with white slip (essentially a liquid mixture of clay and water) and in the bone dry stage. The plates on the right have been slipped but are still leather hard.

Another picture of my studio with the plates.

The kiln room.

This is only a portion of the porcelain that I mixed up with a studio mate. We ended up with around 300 lbs. I've since learned that I never want to mix up my own clay again. Tooooo much work.

A side project I've been working on. I'm making pinch pots and decorating them with dots of slip. I like the idea of making the most basic form out of the most prestigious clay.
A close up of a pinch pot and and idea of what the size is like. I hope people will use them as ring holders or little bowls to put a tea bag during a tea party. the form itself only takes around 5 minutes, but the decorating takes some time. I'm still working out the kinks - not sure if the decoration matches the form. Any ideas?

There will be more pictures of possible glaze ideas and test tiles as soon as they're out of the kiln.

simply amazing.

When I see a piece like this, I wish I knew how to carve wood. The piece entitled Melting Table was hand carved by Rob Smith, taking over 4 weeks to finish. Sooo wonderful.

more from vacation.

I finally got around to uploading more images onto my computer from Hawaii. Here's some of my favorites...

There was a kayak at the house we stayed at, so on the mornings that it was not raining, Brent and I got out exercise in.

Exploring local art in Chinatown.

Hanauma Bay - where I discovered I'm slightly terrified of snorkeling and sea turtles.

The pigeon that stalked us most of the day. He was far too friendly for his own good.

Getting our pineapple cut up at the farmer's market in Honolulu.
Where the road ends at the North Shore.

Inspired by a photo that my sister-in-law took. I really like the little piece of sea glass in the top left corner.
Brent and I.

The Smith's.

"Wild" chickens.

This waterfall was at the end of a 3 mile long hike. It wouldn't have been that bad, but due to all the rain, the roots of the trees were exposed causing a very uneven and quite dangerous walkway. Also, it was uphill. Both ways.

At the beach in Honolulu.

I'm still working on developing a roll of film that I took on the trip. I've successfully made the contact sheet and will hopefully get a few scans up shortly.

the trip.

A few pictures from vacation... More details will come later, after I'm caught up in classes & life in general.

Our parrot friend that lived at our house - he was very good an meowing.

Brent and I at the North Shore.

North Shore.

Our view from the porch.

One of the first pictures on the trip - it was exciting to see thriving flowers and plants rather than five feet of snow.

That's it for now. I've got two brought two other cameras on the trip, so expect more pictures in the near future.