Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Sacred Space?

I enjoyed reading Ron Philbeck's blog post about thinking of his work area as a sacred space. After I read it, I thought about what my wheel looked like and had a hard time seeing it as a sacred space at that moment. See photo below and you will understand! I made a huge mess last week, trying to get back into some sort of routine and I need to be in there right now cleaning up. It does feel good when your work space has been freshly cleaned, you have warm water for the wheel, the ware boards are washed, tools are sharp and clean, and everything is in it's place. This is a rare moment for me, but I like it when it's that way.
Here are a few pictures from my pyrotechnics last week. I also need to get some good photographs made. Wesley got her driver's license last week, so I may have more time now, less taxi duties for me hopefully!



13 comments:

Linda Starr said...

Spectacular pieces. I was just on the other post and this one came up, beautiful work.

cindy shake said...

L-O-V-E all the Raku work -especially the black on the horns.

Anonymous said...

ohh that top vase and platter!

Judy Shreve said...

Love the raku pieces -- the plate is fabulous!
Congrats to Wesley getting her driver's license too!

Hollis Engley said...

Right now, my "sacred space" holds a couple of boxes in which are wrapped pots that need to go off to a couple of customers. And there's white stoneware trimmings all over the wheel, the water in the water bowl is slowly evaporating into white slip, there's crap everywhere. So ... I understand what Ron is saying, but I guess I just have a need to clutter up my "sacred space."

Hollis Engley said...

Oh, and Tracey, lovely big raku jars. They remind me of the work of Maria Bosch in Barcelona. Her blog is linked on mine. She does these big, smoky, rough sculptural balls. Take a look when you get a chance.

FetishGhost said...

I don't care whether the work space is clean or dirty, just as long as I can get to it.
Beautiful raku!

Tracey Broome said...

Well guys, I obviously don't care about the cleanliness either! I do like it when I have a big cleaning but that very seldom happens.I think it looks like work is going on when there is a mess. I saw a photo of Henry Moore's studio one time and believe me, none of us are as cluttered as that.

Jerry said...

That first pot is a beauty. I also like the platter form with the square details. Really nice stuff.

Stacy Shepanek said...

It was funny when I logged on and saw your post. I just wrote a blog about that a week ago... I decided I was abnormally clean in my studio space. People have made fun of me for it!:) Your space, on the other hand, appears totally normal. I've concluded it is because I'm still a novice potter.

I still miss you at CM's... :(

Tracey Broome said...

Thanks Jerry! Stacy, you are beyond novice I think, clean isn't a bad thing, I just can't keep up with it.
Miss you too, but I have to say, I love having Mondays at home now.

Amy said...

these are beautiful forms! I especially like the raku colors.

Anonymous said...

beautiful fat vases! i like the idea of the sacred space thing too that phil mentioned but it's just not my personality. that coil building looks like a lot of fun... i have to resist the call of the coil