HEALDSBURG CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Last night the Clay and Glass show opened in Healdsburg. Lots of variety and some wonderful work all round. I delivered my pieces on Monday. After a bit of drama with my vehicle, I was late getting there, but they were very gracious and helpful. Did I mention the heat??? You could fry eggs on the sidewalk.
Since that day I have been resting and doing little day trips.  I went up to Mendocino to visit (my ) gallery (William Zimmer) and to take in the breathlessly beautiful Mendocino coast. I'm reminded how much I love Northern California.

SAYING GOODBYE

I'm here at Quyle's and resuming the work I started in April. I had worked very hard on a big piece (too big to fire in one piece) Yesterday I had to face the fact that she would never come together after firing. I had to let her go. Every failure teaches you something. I have learned that it's very difficult to segment a piece because of my open building method. For now I will be content with what fits in the kiln in one piece

THE LAST ANGRY WOMAN

This is the last piece I've done at my LA studio (Echo, on W Washington). it's a great place, but I have to drive through downtown traffic to get there and all my pieces are a little ...or a lot, angry. This is my last angry woman. In a few weeks I will be up in Murphys working on what I hope will be more upbeat pieces. My work reflects me so effectively, it's spooky.

AMOCA WORKSHOP

It was a full- house at the AMOCA studio on May 11th for my workshop on Sculpting the Figure in Paperclay  Everyone was enthusiastic about trying something new. We rolled, folded, squeezed and tore the clay slabs. Some had worked with paperclay before, but most had not. The students that were new to the medium were pleasantly surprised with the new "rules of engagement"

SUMMER RESIDENCY

I will be spending part of June, July and August this year at Quyle Kilns in Murphys, CA

June (16^th-30th)

July (20^th–31)

August (11^th- 24^th)

It's a chance for me to work on some larger pieces and to teach workshops (both in June)If you have ever taken a paper clay class from me, I invite you to come up for the day and get individual help with whatever you are working on. Bring it with you or start a new one. Bring your own paper clay or buy some from Pam (Quyle) and make a $50.00 donation to the studio as a day use fee.
The address is 3353 E Hwy 4, Murphys,CA 95247
Be sure to email me if your coming so I will be in the studio that day.  michele@burningclay.com 

WATER

My mind and therefor, the direction of my clay work has been about water lately. I'm told it is the element of change. Water in it's positive state is fluid and moving. It is time for me to move...to flow. I am moving to Los Angeles in the near future. How that will affect my work, I do not know, but I AM moving.

NEW CLAY

I will be teaching a workshop at Quyle Clay in Murphy's (California's gold country) and to facilitate this Pamela Quyle formulated a paper clay for me to take for a trial spin before teaching the class. Once I got past the "new" feel of it, I fell in love. It's made from a base of their Sierra Gold clay so the base color is warm gold when fired. I used my usual stains and oxides and WOW...I love the effect. I can't wait to do more. The workshop for this month (July) is full, but Pam would love to hear from you and if there is enough interest, I will do another date before the end of summer. www.quylekilns.com