Catching Fire

The primary exploration is wood firing and its ability to capture the flames movement in the kiln. This work is inspired by transient natural phenomena. I draw the comparison between the movement of the flame and as through the kiln, their ability to modify the surface of the vessels in the kiln, and the natural forces that shape geographic features in nature. The transient nature of flames can be captured and frozen on the surface of the works that I stack in the kiln. These natural media simply allow us to see currents and otherwise unseen fluid patterns that are constantly permeating our surroundings. Outlined as well is the construction of the Georgia Southern University Anagama (Dorothy) and the troubleshooting and modifications that it underwent during the course of developing my thesis work.

Autorentext

Ian Winsemius is a ceramic artist who grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut. He studied under Steven Carter, receiving his BA in ceramics in 2008. Captivated by woodfiring before he moved to Georgia, he built his first anagama after his first year of graduate school, with which he fired the work in this manuscript.