Yesterday we enjoyed a balmy 72 degrees, a perfect sunny day. Then last night some friends came over and we went to a wonderful outdoor concert to see Four Shillings Short. The concert was held in the outdoor pavilion along the banks of the Tule River at River Ridge Ranch here in Springville.
Aodh Óg Ó Tuama and Christy Martin entertained us with their Celtic, blues, East Indian and medieval blends of music. Aodh Óg Ó sings and plays tin whistles, doumbek, spoons, gems horn, many others. He was born in Cork, Ireland. Christy sings and plays hammered dulcimer, mandolin, mandola and bouzouki, banjo, North Indian Sitar, guitar and bodhran. Not only did we hear wonderful music, but Aodh Óg Ó and Christy gave some historical background behind the instruments they play and told colorful stories about many of the songs they have written. As I was listening to Aodh Óg Ó play the flute I was reminded of Michael Mahan playing his Irish flute on one of his blog videos. What a great time we had. If you ever get a chance to see Four Shillings Short I highly recommend it.
I've been working on some new ceramic forms I can fire in another barrel firing. I'd like to make something special to trade with fellow blogger and artist Cindy Shake of Artmaking in the North. Barrel fired ceramic pieces show off color better if they are made from a porcelain clay and have smooth flat surfaces. I set out to make a completely different form today, but for some reason this form wanted to be made. I call this one a pillow box, because it looks like a big fluffy pillow. Inside on the bottom of one of the pillow boxes I wrote in the word "Dream". The pillow boxes are about 8 x 5 x 5 inches.
I'm not sure about the handle making it through the barrel firing since the falling wood may crush the handle. I think I might be able to protect it by placing it under a grate when I fire it or wrapping it in a chicken wire basket. I'm made several of these pillow boxes today. I also have several other forms in various stages of construction. All of the fruit trees are blooming here now, so plum blossoms are the flower for the day.
72! That is so unfair.
ReplyDeleteGroovy lidded pot there!!!!
I should say, it was 12 degrees here a few minutes ago.
ReplyDeleteHi Gary, thanks about the pot. I also meant to add in my post that the next day (Sunday) we had a cold winter storm, it droped to 42 and snowed down to 3,000 ft and last night it dropped to 30 here, we had severe winds and blowing rain, it's all clear now though. It's up to 40 now though at 7:30 am. BRRR 12 is too cold for me.
ReplyDeleteI like the new images of your work you added to your blog! That's quite a temp drop you had. Sorry to throw the trump card but we woke up Sunday to 14 inches of new snow AND the Volcano went off today!!!! YIKES. all's good though... I'm just ready for fishing :o)
ReplyDeleteWow, hope all is well and I hope Mt. Redoubt just lets off some steam, that's definitely a trump card alright. Scary. We lived 5 miles from Mt. Lassen several years ago and always wondered about it.
ReplyDeleteyou always are coming up with new ideas... how wonderful! glad you said you'll be doing more barrel firing.
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, I guess I just can't help myself - the ideas just pop into my head. I feel like my creative self wasn't free enough and now it all wants to come out in the form of new clay forms. I am not sure these boxes are good for a barrel firing. I have a couple of more ideas for some other forms for the barrel which I'll try in the next couple of days.
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