The Maker

Posted on 1 Comment

Why did I make this video?

Because it was fun to make.

To inspire and encourage people to nurture their own passion for creating.

To honor my father’s unique personality, skills, and lifetime of hard work.

And to answer the oft asked but surprisingly difficult to answer question, “So, what exactly do y’all do at Maine Kiln Works?”

Defining what we do here at Maine Kiln Works is an almost impossible task. While I often tell people that we are a “pottery” studio, that is misleading since ceramic production is only one small aspect of what goes on here. Maine Kiln Works and Artisan Lab is a place to learn through making in a wide array of mediums. A place to nurture learning, living, and authenticity through hands-on creation. A place to take your idea and make it real by physically building it.

This documentary short is about the driving force behind Maine Kiln Works—a man (my father) who has devoted his life to a passion for making and who is now in the process of establishing a hands-on 501(c)3 educational nonprofit to share his multi-disciplinary attitudes, skills and workshops with a new generation passionate about making. View full size here.

Crystals are growing

Posted on 1 Comment
cobalt-crystalline-bowl
Cobalt Crystalline Bowl

Though I have been planning this for some time—only over the last 4 to 5 years have I been working with crystalline glazes. A process much more demanding that non-crystalline because the effect is literally grown by precisely ramping and soaking the molten glaze to develop a wide variety of crystalline patterns. I make a photo series of the developing crystals to determine the precise moment when the crystal patterns reach a desired ratio. Many may find the technical aspects of my new adventure tiresome but I’m enjoying every minute.

“You can observe a lot by watching”

Posted on Leave a comment

To paraphrase Yogi Berrayou can observe a lot by watching YouTube.

If your curious how I do what I do—browsing my Water Stone Sink / Maine Kiln Works YouTube Channel could be entertaining and perhaps educational. A few of the video edits are my crude efforts but most were created by my best friend in this worldPatrick Barter. Much of the content is unusual and in many cases unique. Though I didn’t hatch female, I enthusiastically support the feelings so well expressed in Peggy Seger’s song ‘Gonna Be An Engineer’.

I am never happier than when making, breaking, mulling mistakes and wondering aloud with my hands: “what would it be like to make THAT”. A few of my THAT’s can be seen at my YouTube Channel.

Let me know what you’ve been your makin’.