The first dead albatross bowl.
The first dead albatross bowl is out of the kiln and here it is tadaaa!
This is the bowl that I made in response to this photo, taken on Midway atoll by Chris Jordan.
As I was working I only had a vague idea of how I was going to glaze the bowl, because at the time the making of the bowl was paramount. Everything else was secondary. I am learning to think about glazing as I am working with the raw clay but it is hard to think that far ahead, as the making consumes me.
Once I had finished the bowl, I began to think about glazes and the overall effect that I was after. I initially decided I wanted a shiny glaze over the bird which would highlight the plastic and I wanted a duller matt blaze over the background for extra contrast and to sort of imitate a sandy beach.
I roughly painted a Ruth Langman clear glaze* over the albatross when the pot was dry and this was fired to bisque.I changed my mind about the matt glaze for the background and decided to go with a shiny, honey coloured, sort of crackley glaze I have called Shannon’s Special* The bowl was then fired in oxidation to 1280° celcius
As a prototype bowl I am thrilled to bits with this piece, it has given me a lot to think about.I have another dead albatross bowl in the kiln at the moment, that has been glazed wholly with Shannon’s Special. I am really looking forward to seeing it on Friday.
*Ruth Langman
silica 31
Kaolin 10
Neophyline syenite 30
gerstley borate 21
wollastonite 8
*Shannon’s Special
Potash feldspar 50
Ball clay 25
Whiting 25
Rutile 3
Hope this is not offensive, but the bowl makes me positively wanna retch. The combination of exploded dead animal with dirty plastic bits and guts + container for edibles really… mmm… yuck. It sure makes the statement that the things we eat and consume aren’t always things of beauty… don’t produce beauty around us.
I love the bowl and I think it’s beautiful. The message is subtle but clear. I think the offence (to our wildlife) is felt when you know the story behind it, not in the bowl itself.
You should be thrilled. WD.
I love the bowl too and I think it perfectly captures the plight of the albatross. Well done Kim!
Oh this is brilliant, and heart breaking and incredible and I have to say it again, brilliant!
Bravo!
@ Mrs C. No offense taken at all, I am pleased that the bowl has elicited such a strong response from you.I have the images of the dead albatrosses firmly stuck in my head as well.
Bloody ripper, Kim!
You’ve captured what you intended to capture – what’s in your heart and the pain that you’re feeling – the true mark of an artist, right?
A thing of horrible beauty. Poor albatrosses.
I see Peter Cundall, our favourite transplanted Yorkshireman, has been arrested in Hobart protesting about that abominable mill! Were you there Kim?
The work itself is magnificent! After seeing all the “human debris” the albatross consumed, it makes me wonder how many other wildlife have suffered similar fates.
Voodoo lady, that Albatros lives again now! Beautiful work, well done!
Huigs xxx
I’ve spent days cleaning dead albatross on Midway Atoll. They are wonderful creatures, and the more the word gets out, the more hope there is that we change our ways. Hurrah!
Kim, you have wonderfully captured the plight of creatures. I live in South Africa and often see dead seals (from swallowing fishing line of boats, etc.) when walking on remote beaches. Thanks too for your generosity with the knowledge gained from your experimentation and glaze recipes.
As horrifying as the thought is, and may be seen as, any art that doesn’t cause some kind of feeing just isn’t honest work. The stronger the reaction the more honest the work.
Thanks for sharing the honesty in your work. Great job.
Keep going!