Hand built and hand burnished coated with terra sigliatta wrapped in gopher wire then pit fired on the beach in northern California.
The pit is literally a hole dug in the sand and lined with sawdust. The vessels are gently
nestled into the sawdust. Seaweed to give orange colors is draped over and around
the pieces. Copper carbonate powder to give pinks and burgundies is carefully
sprinkled around the the pieces. Everything is covered by dried cow dung patties
followed by kindling and newspaper. After a prayer to the pit fire gods the fire is lit and
allowed to burn all the way down. When the art is cool enough to be pulled out of the
ashes by hand it is done.
Colors form as the fire dies down. Each piece shows unique marks from the fire
depending on its shape where it was placed in the pit and how hard the wind was
blowing on that particular day. No two are alike.
