|
Yvonne Wild’s artistic life has led her through the
mediums of watercolor painting to pottery to her true passion:
Saggar fired pottery. She found Saggar fired pottery through her
studies with Chris Walton, owner Studio Art located on Glen Street in
Glens Falls and
has been creating her unique pottery works for the past six years.
Originally from Utica, Wild began seriously pursuing her
interest in art by experimenting in watercolor painting when she was in
her mid-twenties. Once she relocated to Queensbury in 1984, Wild
continued participating in watercolor courses.
It was in 1999 at Walton’s studio that she became exposed to the process
of pottery and was immediately intrigued. After working with
high-fire glazes and Raku firing, the artist soon realized that she was
especially drawn to the creativity and unpredictability of Saggar fired
pottery. Wild describes her Saggar fired work as having a very
natural and organic appearance, achieved through an unusual firing
process. "We arrive at the final product by adding copper sulfate
and sodium," she explained. "In order to protect Chris’s kiln, we put
the pottery pieces into terra cotta pots and add the copper sulfate and
sodium and other ingredients like sawdust, steel wool, dried flowers,
newspapers soaked in sodium, even banana peels." Wild attributes
the unusual list of additives to the completely experimental nature of
the genre. She said that all the ingredients used in the firing
process have an effect on the color, which often turns out to be a
combination of salmon and black, thanks to the copper sulfate and sodium
(salmon) and sawdust (black). "We’re still experimenting," she
said "We’re never sure what the results will be. Because of this,
it’s impossible to duplicate two pieces exactly."
Wild has sold her pieces at the LARAC Gift Shop and
participated in LARAC’s 2003-2005 Members Shows. She also occasionally
sells works out of her home. Her pieces range from the functional:
bowls, vases, plates and mugs to the non-functional. "Like Raku,
all Saggar fired pottery is non-functional because it’s so porous." But
that hasn’t deterred admirers. "Each piece is unique and
impossible to duplicate, which adds to the beauty and interest of the
art. Some have even described Saggar fired pottery as depicting
seascapes or storms at sea," said Wild. Though her watercolors
have fallen by the wayside, Wild continues to create her works in
Walton’s studio and hopes one day to have her own studio, but is willing
to take it in increments. "I’ll be happy to start out with just a
wheel," she said.
|
