Sarah German's Arch Suspended Mug, 6 in. (15.2 cm) in height, B-Mix clay with Mason stains, fired to cone 6 in an electric kiln, 2024.

My work is an exploration in function, form, texture, and color. Though ceramics can be a fragile material, my work is influenced by materials that, when structured in a specific manner, provide strength, such as yarn in a weaving or metal beams in a truss bridge. This can be seen in the delicate, yet strong woven pieces that I create by rolling coils of colored clay and weaving them in time-tested patterns proven to provide support. My pieces are intended for everyday use, but it is important to me that they reach outside the boundaries established by today’s culture of mass production.

1 Using clay colored with Mason stains, roll out coils, cut the coils to predetermined measurements. 2 Build structures upside down using hump molds and a drawn pattern. Start with a foot ring and vertical coils.

3 Make sure that where the coils meet the previous layer, the vertical coils are in between to carry the weight of the cup. 4 Compress all connections with a damp paintbrush to prevent cracking and clean up any smearing between clay colors.

5 Allow the structure to firm up then remove it from the mold. Score the seams on the vertical coils. 6 With the thrown cup at a soft-medium leather hard, score then join it to the coiled structure. Add a handle.

Learn more at www.sarahgermanceramics.com.

 

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