Please ~ Send a message to pankmonkeydoorstudio@gmail.com 

Story huh?

A - description.

Well how about a start with a brief description of clay or ceramics: it has been used to form mud pies and bricks, from superconductors to highly resistant materials ~ think space shuttle tiles.  It has both smooth and rough qualities - with just a wee bit more or less water these characteristics change.   With the right amount of heat It will transform before our eyes from mud to durable stone like materials.

With shards being found that are about 16,000 years old,  I feel pretty good about the longevity of these projects.

A - Factoid.

About ceramics in general, the encyclopedia Britannica states that  "In chemical composition, for instance, diamond and graphite, which are two different forms of carbon, are considered to be ceramics even though they are not composed of inorganic compounds". 

A - musing.      Is this an artist statement?

I'd like to think there are times that I can Invoke or invite the spirit of clay...

Invoking the Spirit of the clay - Sometimes I feel like there's a spirit to... or in, all things. 

In those times, asking the brother or sister or kindred forces to express themselves... I suppose it's a type of what has been called the Muse.

There are times when working with ceramics, I think as is with all practices, that the resistance, tho still present, seems to steer or yield in certain ways or directions. Perhaps akin to a water current.  Not quite leading the way but offering a guidance or  just a flow perhaps.  This is a most amusing "interaction," a time of inspired improvisation.  These moments are what I'll call invoking the spirit of "Clay".  Eh, it also could just be me.

3d, even 4d Poems:
I see the best of my work as 3 and even 4d poems... more on that on a later date.

A - resume.

Oh dear - it was required that I write a resume to make a submission - this is the closest I can come to for that.

1986 - 1989 

I worked on ceramics in the Syracuse University program, as an under grade for 3 years give or take. 

Working mainly with the techniques and  materials for high fire reduction, Raku and some salt firings.

Worked there also as a volunteer, a mini studio tech - this is a lofty title I've given myself in retrospect.  Which basically means, I had been given some Keys. They'd let me poke my nose in more than just the classes and I could stay late into the night at the facilities, no one else seemed to want to be there then.  I would help the studio techs, the grad students, and the professors (when they'd let me) with loading and unloading, firing kil, mixing clay bodies, building kil,  a little gas and electric kil repair and general studio stuff.  Trying to stay out from underfoot while being helpful (aka nose-y) in any arena i could.  Sharing a building with the fine art painting grad students, we would argue late into the night about what art is.

Got to (also had to) fire my own Raku kils and a few pit firings etc.  Not too much from a lifetime ceramist's point of view but tons for the kid I was.

An additional amusing entry for a resume - I was the 1987 NCECA poster boy for that august conference. It was a great honor for me, but frankly in retrospect, I think no one else wanted to get their head covered in clay and sit in the big-gas(s) kiln.  Anyone having a copy of that poster would have my never-ending gratitude for a copy or even a decent photo.  

2013  - 2020 

About ten years ago started getting into the mud again, really I don't know the exact year, at an awesome & secret facility.  For the last few years I've been working more intensively  on my own glazes. 

Completing my own wee studio in 2019 or 20.

2021 - 2024

Presently I'm working on as many kiln babies as will come out ...
Experimental forms relieve the tedium of making expected forms and simple bowls relieve the stresses of untethered art experiments and works.  Then... then, well, i can make some bowls - & around and round the wheel goes.  

Thanks!

~ Clayton

Caretaker of the Pank Monkey Door Studio