Out of the Earth Into the Fire: A Course
in Ceramic Materials for the Studio
Potter

by Mimi Obstler

The American Ceramic Society 2000
ISBN: 1-57498-078-5

Hardcover, 65 colour photos, 307 pages

This province is seeing a resurgence of the
wood fire process. Organic attributes of
the firings, random volcanic beauty marks
and fire kisses have made their way back
inte the hearts of many of us. In the second
edition of Mimi Obstler's Out ofthe Earth
Into the Fire, the author presents the earth
as an artist's medium and lays out geology
like a painter's palette.

In her introduction, Obstler introduces her
topic by stating that“... ¢ universal drama
of the earth's formation is reenacted with
every kiln firing. In this connection, it is
significant to mote that the heat of the
earth's volcanic gases that spew forth rock-

Book Review

forming magma, known as lava, may reach
temperatures between 2000 and 2300°F -
the final temperature of the stoneware kiln
fire.” This book takes the reader step-hy-
step through geology from @ potter's per-
spective,

Abthough Out of the Earth Into the Fire
is highly technical, it is laid out in such a
way that you need not be a scientist to
understand it, There are several glaze reci-
pes in all temperature ranges and full ex-
planations of all glaze and clay materials
in lay terms as well ws scientific. There are
several colour photos of rocks with cap-
tions stating the type of rock and its min-
eral breakdown in familiar potters” mate-
nals: quartz, feldspar etc. Many of the
photographs are combinations of rock sam-
ples together with fired pots connecting
the concept of carth and the ceramic arts.
The addition of 50 new photographs is one
of the important changes in the second
printing.

A store for all your pottery needs,

#6 - 3071 No. 5 Road
Richmond, BC (Near Bridgeport)
Tel: 604.244.3734

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Potters Guild of British Columbian Newsletter

Another important change in this edition is
the updating of technical and manufactur-
ers’ data; all mined substances are detailed
in their glaze and clay functions in addi-
tion to their geological and corporate
sources. Any potter seriously interested in
understanding the geology of their art will
thoroughly appreciate this updated refer-
ence book.

Rachelle Chinnery

Xinia Marin Workshop

Sunday March 24 | 1:00AM-6:00PM
Monday March 25 10;00AM-5:00PM
#2-425 West 5° Ave at Yukon St

From Pensacola Florida, Xinia Marin has
been a professor of ceramics at the Univer-
sity of Costa Rica for 20 years and now
resides in Florida with Peter King where
they work together on architectural instal-
lations. Presently she is a professor of
ceramics at the School of An, University
of West Florida, Xinia is well known for
her understanding of glaze technology.
“She layers glaze like a watercolourist,”
says Peter King.

This workshop is on glaze application and
trouble shooting glaze problems. Bring
your glaze recipes or examples to work
out and discuss. We will also be glazing an
architectural piece created the week be-
fore in a Peter King workshop. Info on
Xinia, see www.peterkingceramics.com.,
Fee: $135 (50% non-refundable deposit).
Contact Sonja Picard 604.278.0864 or
email <info@ sonjapicard.com>

see Peter King workshop page I

January 2002