TRANSMUTABLE GROUND
incorporating regional rocks and minerals into ceramics
incorporating regional rocks and minerals into ceramics
Exhibition Statement
Transmutable Ground reflects on the elemental language shared between landscape and ceramics, exploring ways to integrate bits of local geology into my nature inspired work. A small selection of responsibly gathered regional rocks and minerals are incorporated into each piece, either as a pulverized glaze ingredient or embedded whole and fired into the body of the piece. Several pieces are made with local clay.
Featured here is a dark, sparkly Caliche Aventurine glaze that I developed using an infamous Tucson Valley calcium carbonate that forms a cement-like layer just below the ground surface. Minerals and rocks such as feldspar, granite, and mica make an appearance in selected pieces as inclusions in the clay body. An array of small tiles display a sampling of rocks tested over the years.
The diversity of landscapes in the Sky Islands region have influenced my ceramic work, particularly the stunning canyon walls and rock formations in our local mountains. My creative process combines a love of pottery and hiking with an interest in glaze chemistry and geology. Each piece invites the clay to collaborate with me. Allowing the applied exterior texture to crack and form its own random terrain, I follow its lead in sculpting surfaces that resemble clay’s original source: rocks. Using the visual language of my favorite landscapes, my work is inspired by how we move through life’s seismic shifts, exploring themes of fragility, durability, fracturing, realignment, and grounding in the midst of unpredictability.
*The clay and rocks used in this exhibition were tested for toxic levels of elements such as lead with a handheld XRF spectrometer, courtesy of University of Arizona Professor Marcel Schaap. Whole rock analysis was completed for the Caliche (gathered from my property) by ALS Global to ensure the food safety and durability of the Caliche Aventurine glaze, using the Extended UMF Calculator at glazy.org*
Transmutable Ground reflects on the elemental language shared between landscape and ceramics, exploring ways to integrate bits of local geology into my nature inspired work. A small selection of responsibly gathered regional rocks and minerals are incorporated into each piece, either as a pulverized glaze ingredient or embedded whole and fired into the body of the piece. Several pieces are made with local clay.
Featured here is a dark, sparkly Caliche Aventurine glaze that I developed using an infamous Tucson Valley calcium carbonate that forms a cement-like layer just below the ground surface. Minerals and rocks such as feldspar, granite, and mica make an appearance in selected pieces as inclusions in the clay body. An array of small tiles display a sampling of rocks tested over the years.
The diversity of landscapes in the Sky Islands region have influenced my ceramic work, particularly the stunning canyon walls and rock formations in our local mountains. My creative process combines a love of pottery and hiking with an interest in glaze chemistry and geology. Each piece invites the clay to collaborate with me. Allowing the applied exterior texture to crack and form its own random terrain, I follow its lead in sculpting surfaces that resemble clay’s original source: rocks. Using the visual language of my favorite landscapes, my work is inspired by how we move through life’s seismic shifts, exploring themes of fragility, durability, fracturing, realignment, and grounding in the midst of unpredictability.
*The clay and rocks used in this exhibition were tested for toxic levels of elements such as lead with a handheld XRF spectrometer, courtesy of University of Arizona Professor Marcel Schaap. Whole rock analysis was completed for the Caliche (gathered from my property) by ALS Global to ensure the food safety and durability of the Caliche Aventurine glaze, using the Extended UMF Calculator at glazy.org*
Molcajete (mortar and pestle)
Inspired by the act of processing the raw materials required for use in ceramics. I use a mortar and pestle quite frequently to process small quantities of materials (clays and rocks) for testing.
Each molcajete in this exhibition introduces one regional mineral/rock that I have chosen to use for the pieces in this body of work: Feldspar, Muscovite, and Caliche.
I discovered that these raw ingredients were compatible with my work after years of intermittent testing.
Inspired by the act of processing the raw materials required for use in ceramics. I use a mortar and pestle quite frequently to process small quantities of materials (clays and rocks) for testing.
Each molcajete in this exhibition introduces one regional mineral/rock that I have chosen to use for the pieces in this body of work: Feldspar, Muscovite, and Caliche.
I discovered that these raw ingredients were compatible with my work after years of intermittent testing.
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Pluton Molcajete
A decorative molcajete made with Eocene Epoch Feldspar embedded into porcelain clay. Using no adhesives, only heat to fuse the rocks to the piece. I have taken numerous photos of the granite in my nearby mountains, embedded with chunks of feldspar and moss growing within fractures. This piece takes direct inspiration from those boulders and canyon walls. |
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Phyllosilicate Molcajete
A decorative molcajete made with Muscovite mica embedded into porcelain clay. Muscovite is formed when clay minerals enlarge through the heat and pressure of metamorphism. Before firing, a thin sheet of Muscovite feels like thick plastic that will break if bent. After firing, the sheet becomes more firm and feels like a thin sheet of metal that will chip if pressed hard enough. Designed so that if the muscovite chips over time, the piece will still be beautiful as it evolves, like the weathering of geological features. |
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Caliche Molcajete
Local calcium carbonate, gathered from my property, was pulverized to make the Caliche Aventurine glaze used in this piece. Caliche is a Tucson Valley calcium carbonate rock and an essential ingredient in my Caliche Aventurine Glaze. Iron crystals form with just the right proportion of calcium carbonate:iron oxide in this glaze recipe. The glaze can look dramatically different when viewed indoors vs in full sunlight. See the video below. |
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Click and enlarge video to see the Caliche Glaze in the molcajete above in full sunlight vs indoor lighting. The difference is significant.
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Caliche Aventurine Cups
Glazed using an Aventurine recipe that I developed in 2019, but using a calcium carbonate source from the Tucson Valley: Caliche (shown below the cup). |
If you live in the Tucson Valley and have tried to dig a hole for any reason you know Caliche. It makes a distinct sound when the shovel hits it and the longer you have lived here, the more visceral the internal response is. It requires determination (sometimes even a pickaxe/jackhammer and some curse words) to break through the caliche layer to plant a tree or pour the foundation for posts, etc.
I wanted to make something beautiful with this widely hated rock. I wanted to see it with new eyes and hopefully help others see the potential in our Caliche. Not that it makes it any less painful to dig through!
I wanted to make something beautiful with this widely hated rock. I wanted to see it with new eyes and hopefully help others see the potential in our Caliche. Not that it makes it any less painful to dig through!
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Click and enlarge video to see one of the cups in full sunlight, as well as the raw Caliche.
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Caliche is chemically different than whiting, which is the commercial calcium carbonate widely purchased for use in glaze recipes. Whiting is pure calcium carbonate mined from cliffs in England, France or Belgium and transported worldwide. It is relatively inexpensive and more practical than using Caliche. But for my work, which is grounded in my very distinct landscape, using local ceramic materials aligns with my creative goals. It costs nothing, requires no transportation, and makes use of what is considered yard waste. It is a labor of love, is time consuming to process, but it feels like an essential part of my artistic practice.
Caliche as a glaze ingredient introduces chemical compounds besides pure calcium carbonate that need to be factored in when analyzing the durability and food safety of a glaze. The chemical composition of Caliche includes silica and alumina, small amounts of iron, magnesium, potassium and sodium oxides, plus titanium dioxide. The distinct combination of chemicals in my Caliche have visually imparted some blue hues to my original Aventurine glaze and has helped reduce the amount of uncontrollable glaze drips on my pots. Caliche seems to improve my original glaze recipe and also does not affect its food safety. A big win!
If you're interested in viewing the whole rock chemical analysis, completed by ALS Global, feel free to visit my glazy.org entry here.
Caliche as a glaze ingredient introduces chemical compounds besides pure calcium carbonate that need to be factored in when analyzing the durability and food safety of a glaze. The chemical composition of Caliche includes silica and alumina, small amounts of iron, magnesium, potassium and sodium oxides, plus titanium dioxide. The distinct combination of chemicals in my Caliche have visually imparted some blue hues to my original Aventurine glaze and has helped reduce the amount of uncontrollable glaze drips on my pots. Caliche seems to improve my original glaze recipe and also does not affect its food safety. A big win!
If you're interested in viewing the whole rock chemical analysis, completed by ALS Global, feel free to visit my glazy.org entry here.
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Cicatriz Luminaria
In this piece the Muscovite represents a protective element, like stitches, meant to heal a wound or hole in order to eventually form a scar. During the healing process, the area is fragile and hyper sensitive, like the Muscovite. I'm drawn to fractures in my local canyon walls and boulders, and the minerals or organisms that fill them in, such as a vein of quartz, a stack or muscovite, or a ribbon of moss/lichen. Placing a tea light within the Cicatriz Luminaria, you see a gentle, warm, inviting glow peeking through the wound. To me, it represents an invitation for deeper reflection. |
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Anthropocene Vase
Feldspar is a mineral that grew millions of years ago within the granites in the mountains near Tucson, where I live. I love placing our almost imperceptibly brief human existence within the context of geological time. It brings meaningful perspective. Anthropocene Vase imagines our species as one of countless fossilized organisms embedded within the future geological record. |
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Celestial Pool Altar with Cacti
An imagined nighttime desert canyon scene, with a Caliche Aventurine 'sky' that flows directly into a tinaja, or surface depression in a boulder created over time by water. The tinaja can be left empty, showing the aventurine glaze in the pool, or can be filled with sand and an incense cone, or even a small snack if you'd like--the Caliche glaze is food safe :) A tiny vase is embedded into the altar for displaying a mini bouquet using dried plants. |
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Opening Night for Transmutable Ground at the Mudroom Gallery
JANUARY 4, 2025 6-8PM I was fortunate to engage in so many conversations and answer tons of great questions about my work and creative process during my art opening. There appears to be quite the interest in gathering and using rocks in ceramics! I carried around a light to shine it into the Caliche Aventurine glaze to highlight its gorgeous character. It was fun to hear the 'ooohs and aaahs'. Huge thanks to the Romero House Pottery Studio and the Mudroom Gallery for the opportunity to share my work with the community (and for taking these photos!). I can't wait to continue testing. |
