Peter Simon

Glaze Project for the Council for Basic Education, 1997

Riverdale Country School

Description:

Ceramic glazes develop in an atmosphere of oxygen and fuel and tremendous heat inside the walls of the kiln as they are fired. In most school situations firings are accomplished without the burning of fuel, but by the heating of electrical elements. This results in heat, but lacks a lot of the unpredictable spontaneity of flame and gas currents. For this reason it is difficult to achieve some of the rich colors and textures available to the potter who burns organic fuel.

My project involved an inquiry into several aspects of ceramics glazes. Having long admired the rich surfaces and colors of reduction firings in fuel burning kilns, and having only an electric kiln at my disposal, I sought to expand the repertoire of glaze effects that I could achieve in an oxidizing atmosphere. To do so involved experimentation with the formulation of the glazes, and with their application to the bisque pot. Though I initially conceived of this project as essentially technical, devoted to the formulation and testing of glazes, I am also concerned with the forms to which the glazes were applied. I experimented with differences in their appearance on horizontal or vertical surfaces. My work therefore included several different series of ceramic forms onto which these new glazes could be applied.

Purpose: As described above, to increase the glaze vocabulary available to users of cone 6 electric kilns. Value: Teachers might use this program to develop glazes of their own, or to apply their own glazes in new ways. Process: The ceramic process includes an examination or development of a glaze formula; mixing and testing of a small batch; adjustments (sometimes several) to achieve the desired surface, and texture, and activity; the addition of colorants; and finally testing in conjunction with other glazes.

Samples: (submitted on disc.) These works are my own and were created during the time of the grant. I have shown several finished glazes and their interaction with one another. I have also shown some of the forms on which they were applied.

 Resources:

Ceramics, Philip Rawson The Ceramic Spectrum, Robin Hopper

The Potter's Palette, Christine Constant and Steven Ogden

Electric Kiln Ceramics, Richard Zakin