Cutting It

摘要

Seven years ago I was packing objects that resembled clay pigeons, with anything from soap powder to banana skins and deliberately contaminating the clay with plaster. Powerful, raw and natural structures alongside the work of Peter Voulkos, with his energy and disregard for convention, were my main sources of inspiration. This is how I chose to spend the second year of my degree course. Understandably, I was banished to Loughborough University's monstrous oil-fired kiln in the yard, to fire in saggers. There I had my first introduction to the alchemy of wood firing, inspired by the shiny pots of Ben Brierley. He organised team firings, day and night for three days, leaving us with friends for life and pots with beautiful jade runs and nipples. The world of clay and fire was mesmerising.