The Kiln is on!

          As of this morning , there are a lot of empty shelves in the   drying room.
All of my semester's efforts were piled on kiln shelves. Many thanks to Scott for getting all the bits into the kiln in the right number of peices. Short people need CircD'Soliel training to get clay work to the bottom of the kiln and then get themselves out.
So many techniques to learn and challenges to overcome:
Besides Scott and Gem's support, I found a lot of written resources and inspiration in the Library.
Getting familiar with the clay, its strength and flexbility.
Experimenting with cookie presses and soft clay.
Cutting dies for the 6 inch extruder.
Extruding multiples with 3 different dies and two clay bodies.
Making and using plaster molds of two-part forms in three sizes.
Using the slab roller.
Rolling and shaping multiple tubes under two feet long using Murphy soap and 3/4 inchX 3 foot metal pipes.
Creating a maquette of the proposed installation (Mixed colours of Plasticine,copper wire,stones,foam core).
Clarifying strategies for drying and assembly of the individual parts of the full sized installation.
Besides all its' physical parameters, this entire project was so rich in helping me clarify my priorities in making art through clay.
The conflict between making "Object" and making"Idea" was always there.
The need to define personal aesthetics as they applied to the overall idea.
Trying to visualize in three dimensions, the relationship and assembly of all the parts, in a specific context.

This project will lead to others...I love working with clay and want to explore the use of paperclay as a sculptural tool.
Research is underway and the paper is on order from a friendly recycling source.