Miriam has been making ceramic masks since the early 1990's. She handbuilds the masks from sculpture clay and fires them to cone 06, which is similar in strength to terra cotta. Miriam often uses raku, a post-fire production method, to create unique glaze effects. Raku involves removing a piece from the kiln when red-hot, while the glaze is molten, and introducing it into a carbon-rich environment. Often, this is a covered metal container filled with combustibles like pine needles or shredded newspaper. The burning carbon creates an oxygen-poor environment which causes certain glazes to react in spectacular ways, creating metallics and flashes. Some glazes crackle and the cracks are filled with black carbon making the piece look aged.
Because Miriam handbuilds, using no molds, these art works are one-of-a-kind. |
