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Pensacola Clay

Six years ago when [ decided clay was my
lite pach, | starned co read Ceramics
Monthly. Every sc often I'd fall upon an
advertisersent for Bailey Slab rollers with
Peter King standing proudly beside a

fireplace he had buile and installed. In the

Seprentber 9) jssue of CM { also see
Summer $6 issuc) an article was written

ubour Peter and che archinectural ceramics
he was producing. | was intrigued with che

amazing concept of forming an immense
mass of clay ineo a permanent immovable

te scale where two ciches equalled one
foot. This was meferred ter constanely
throughout the construction of the piece.
A wood frame was buile peor co our
artival that was netlective of the site
measurements plus 10% larger for clay
shrinkage. The whole wooden frame was
then covered in ome inch thick slabs of «
very soft groggy clay, which we then
smomhed down. From here we acarted ta
build wp the mantk and columns, adding
detail points which were, at some spas,
three inches chick!

would say us he scratched his head. We
covered insrallanon considerations and
preparations hor indoor, outdoor,
PeTMINent or semi-permanent,
erouts...well, the list is endless.

One student said, “ | think architectural
ceramics breaks all molds of methodology
in clay and yet somehow connects ir all
ogether in the end", In general we all fele
thar architectural ceramics touches all
rechniques in clay an can be useful co any
ceramise. As for Peter and his teaching
method - it was refreshing, His merciless
energy and desire oo share everything he's

We were able to participate at any cime,
bur were often busy raking phoros of che
steps, note taking or sketching mew ideas

part of a place or structure. Well, suffice to
say | was hooked and I knew somehow,
someday | would tind my way down to the
Deep of’ South and attend his six day

. . [S t

intensive workshops. My dream became a
reality this pasc July.

get was incredibly generous. Every
question asked was answered as if ie were
for homemade tools. Once the piece was the mose important question of the day.
iirshed we watched Peter cur it ins Peter King is a true master of architectural
smaller pieces. These had to be carefully ceramics, a man who, is helping co keep
considered for firing, installation and this art form alive. As form - my life with
reflection on the design. Once cut, the clay will never be the same.
fireplace was slowly left co dry, glaze and
oxides were applied, and it was fired once
to core six in his gas kiln.

[ arrived in Pensacola, Florida ac Peter's
studiolgallerwhome called Stonehaus. The
group was greeted like old friends by Peter
King, his brother John King (whe has
worked with Peter for fourteen years and his
loval team of staff, There was eight of us
thar attended the workshop, all coming
from a vast array of backgrounds and
ceramic experience. Buc we all shared a
common thread...a passion for CLAY,
There was an immediate magical energy
within the group which we used to our
advantage, sharing and exchanging ideas,
which in itself was very exciting. Togerher
we learned to leave behind and our
inhibitions and expectations of clay's
possibélicies and, thru Peter's guidance, we
explored, played and built up new ideas chat #
had us leaving with permanenc structures in
our mind.

Peter King wall be in Vancouver in the
spring of 1995. [you are interested in
attending his 2 L/2 day workshop please
The other main focus was the installation, contact Sonya Picard az (604) 278 -O864
i consuming process. “The installation is

still the making of the piece" , as Peter Sonya Picard

Every morning we were consumed and
errertained by a well-organized and very
informative slide show of Peter's work, its
process and installation, as well as his pase
students work.

Qur focus within che six days was co cover
information on: building a fireplace facade,
sinks and pedestal sinks, relief tiles and
plaster casting, a complete insrallation om
site, box building and columns, business
marketing, contracts, pricing and proposals
and, finally, water fountains.

The main project was the building of a
fireplace facade. Peter had built a maquecte

Peter King inside Fireplace wilh Students |