LH Residency

From October 15th, 2004 to June 20th, 2005 I was an invited resident artist at the non-profit LH ceramic residency.

I assisted in building a high refractory salt kiln and raku kiln for the LH residency resulting in an added kiln building experience and a new body of ceramic work utilizing the high salt & raku firing process. I also participated and created artwork for an anagama wood firing involving the local community of ceramic artists.

The mission statement of the LH ceramic residency offers this insight:

"The LH Project, with its remote location at the foot of the Wallowa Mountains, offers an intimate, private setting for serious, committed artist to nourish their creative process. Providing everything an artist working within the ceramic medium needs to explore and develop a body of work along with the chance to escape the rigors and demands of everyday life is the primary vision of the LH Project."

I started a series, entitled "ink wells", fusing the image of the brush, chunks of glass and centering clay with only my elbow. This idea was influenced from observing inkwells being used by calligraphers when I lived in Japan.

I utilized a wide variety of horse, deer, moose and cat hairs to create several series of individual brushes. The hand made brushes I created functioned on two primary levels, as works of art and tools to paint with on ceramic, paper and cloth surfaces.