casey clark, potter

I design pots that are intended for everyday use. I am especially interested in creating work that can transform the ordinary routines of making coffee or grinding herbs into micro-rituals. From sketching forms to selecting clay to glazing and firing, I am always considering how the pots will fit into people’s lives and homes.

materials

For materials, I work primarily in stoneware and occasionally porcelain, which are both strong, dense clays. The sturdy and simple forms I create are designed to be ergonomic and enduring.

My glazes are durable and always free of harmful materials. Many of them include locally sourced materials that lend a sense of place to the work. The resulting pots are well suited for the rigors of daily use.

firing

 My work is fired in both wood and gas burning kilns, up to cones 10-13 (2350-2400 F), resulting in pots with deep, rich surfaces. While the wood kiln holds the majority of my pots and interest, I also use a small, efficient propane burning kiln.  This type of firing offers a clean, minimalist look and expands the range of forms and surfaces I produce.

the ANAGAMA KILN

Since spring 2000, most of the ware produced at Great Basin Pottery has been fired in the wood burning anagama kiln. The kiln was designed and built by Paul Herman and Joe Winter in 1999 and 2000. The design is based on old Asian types, known as tunnel or anagama kilns and the firings take five days to load, three to fire, and four to cool. The kiln is fired twice yearly, in spring and fall.

Fuel for the firings is primarily pine and fir, which grow locally in abundance. Every tree we harvest is dead standing, windfall, or from thinning projects in the local forests.

Using wood appeals to me as it is a renewable fuel source and as close to carbon neutral as possible. The effects created by the combustion of wood and the resulting ash generate complex, seductive surfaces that continually intrigue me. Just as important, wood firing keeps me connected to a group of friends and potters that are an important part of my life.  Firing with wood is a labor intensive process requiring months of preparation and a team of people working together; I love the sense of fellowship this collaboration creates.  I learned this process from two influential mentors, Paul Herman and Joe Winter.  Working with them and learning alongside them has been an incredibly rewarding experience.