ARTIST STATEMENT
Saggar-Fired Terra Cotta

I have been exploring the low-fire saggar process for several years, and I have come up with my own combination of materials and technique that allows me to create unique results.

I start with red terra cotta clay and make vessels of various shapes.  I brush some surface areas of the vessel with white terra sigillata slip, and leave other zones red, which I burnish with a smooth stone. After a low bisque-fire, I wrap copper wire and copper-infused paper around the pot, and put it into its own saggar, a larger covered pot, with wood shavings sprinkled with copper carbonate and salt.I fire several saggars at a time in a gas kiln, where the combustible materials fume and swirl around the pieces inside, creating an atmosphere of oxygen reduction in the enclosed saggars. The carbon and minerals are deposited variously onto the original burnished red clay, the white slipped surfaces and the different vessel shapes, veiling some parts and revealing others. The temperature of the kiln and the length of firing influence the results.  The pots manifest a synergy of unique colors, effects and patterns which I have not seen in anyone else’s saggar-fired work. I believe that I have brought the saggar technique to a new place, and I hope that I have created work that engages and resonates as an aesthetic experience.

 

Setting up the Saggar process.

Welcome to my Studio.

Awards | Exhibits

AWARDS

  • BEST IN SHOW 3D : Art Source Gallery Annual Juried Show, July 2024. Boise, ID

  • SECOND PLACE: Idaho Creations in Clay II Idaho Clay Artists Juried Exhibition, July 2000. Boise, ID. Tony Martin, Juror

  • THIRD PLACE: Idaho Creations in Clay Idaho Clay Artists Juried Exhibition, July 1999. Boise, ID. Garth Claaesen, Juror,   

  • QUICK ART GRANT RECIPIENT: Idaho Commission on the Arts Study with Pueblo potter Dolly Naranjo. September 1999. Santa Fe, NM.

  • PURCHASE AWARD: Feats of Clay XI National Juried Ceramics Exhibit May-June 1998. Lincoln, CA.  Clayton Bailey, Juror.•  

EXHIBITS

  • Boise Open Studios Juried Artist Studio Tour, October 1-2, 2023 Boise, ID

  • First Friday Garden City at Casa Bella Home Decor Featured Artist August 4, 2023 Garden City, ID

    Surel’s Place BOSCO Small Works Show, June 26 - July 5, 2023 Boise, ID

    Boise Open Studios Juried Artist Studios Tour, October 8 - 9, 2022 Boise, ID

    Fort Boise Art Center Spring Show and Sale April 29, 2022 Boise, ID

    MadDog Gallery Challis Arts Council, Group Show, June 2022 - June 2023 Challis, ID

    BOSCO Artists @ Riverside Hotel Group Show, June - August 2021 Boise, ID

  • BOSCO Juried Artist Studio Tour, October 11-13 2019 Boise, ID

  • BOSCO Artists @ Riverside Hotel Group Show, September 2018 Boise, ID

    BOSCO Juried Artist Studio Tour, October 13 - 15, 2017 Boise, ID

  • BOSCO Juried Artist Studio Tour, October 7-9 2016 Boise, ID

  • BOSCO | Boise State U Student Union.Opening Doors Show. September-October 2016. Boise, ID

  • Surel’s Place BOSCO Small Works Flash Show, February 28, 2016 Boise, ID

  • Fort Boise Art Center Fall Show and Sale. October 4-5, 2015 Boise, ID

  • BOSCO Juried Artist Studio Tour, October 11 - 12,  2014 Boise, ID

  • Gypsy Gallery On the Grove First Thursday Show , June 3, 2010 Boise ID

  • We Art Women Annual Show and Auction, April 8, 2010.  Boise ID

  • Tortuga Studio Christmas Sale, December, 2008. Petaluma CA

  • Mistongo Restaurante Galería de Arte Group Show, 2005. Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico

  • Boise Art Museum Idaho Triennial All media Statewide Juried Show 2004. Boise, ID. Arthur Danto, Juror.

  • Basement Gallery Featured Artist. January-February 2004. Boise, ID

  • Basement Gallery Group Show. November - December 2003.  Boise, ID

  • Friesen Gallery | Northwest Nazarene University. Seven Idaho Ceramicists. February 2003., Nampa, ID

  • Mosaic Gallery and Wine Bar. One Person Show. December 2001 - January 2002. Boise, ID 

  • Treasure Valley | Boise State University. Juried Art Exhibit. June 2001.  Boise, ID •  

  • Feats of Clay XI.   National juried ceramics exhibit. May - June 1998.  Lincoln, CA. Clayton Bailey, Juror.

  • Idaho Triennial. Boise Art Museum.All media statewide juried show.  1998.  Boise, ID. Cheryl Conkelton, Juror.

  • Beaux Arts Christmas Show | Boise Art Museum Collectors' Corner.  November 1998.  Boise, ID •   

  • Vision/Power | Boise State University. Juried exhibit featuring women artists. March 1998. Boise, ID

  • DecorCreations Gallery.  Featured Artist. October 1997. Boise, ID.

  • Casa de Artistas.  Exhibited 1996-2000.• Scottsdale, AZ

  • Stonington Gallery.  Exhibited 1996 - 1998. Ketchum, Sun Valley, ID

  • Weardon Designs Gallery. Exhibited June 1995 - June 1996. Boise, ID,

  • Galos Gallery Two Person Show, August 1994. Boise, ID.

  • Boise State Union Gallery One Person Show  July 1994. Boise, ID. 

  • Lanigan Gallery   Exhibited April 1994. Boise, ID,