Should have posted this sooner, but...

My "new" blog and store are now here.

240v electric kiln, excellent condition $200 obo

Jenken kiln exterior

Jenken kiln interior

A friend of mine has a kiln for sale, $200 or best offer:

• Jenken model number D-21
• Temp 2300 degrees
• 230 Volts @ 27 Amps
• interior dimensions 21" dia. x 22" deep (about 4.5 cubic feet)
• 2 zones w/4-position switches
• kiln sitter

I tuned it on, and all elements appear to be working.

Older kiln but in very good shape, looks like it's only been fired a few times.

Includes 2 shelves (both need grinding and washing) and a few posts (see photo); you'll definitely need more furniture; No stand, currently set up on a couple of concrete blocks.

Kiln currently located in the arts and crafts area of a condominium.

Note: plug looks like a NEMA 10-30; may need to replace this with more common type like NEMA 6-30 (see http://www.generatorjoe.net/html/web/outlet/quailplug.html for receptacle types).

Pickup only in Gainesville Florida
Call Alice at 352-871-5293 if interested

Register for pottery class today

Don't forget, registration opens today 10 AM for arts & crafts leisure courses at the University of Florida. Most classes are open to anyone 16 years of age or older:

https://www.union.ufl.edu/leisure/secure/category.asp?subj=arts

I'll be teaching Making Pottery on the Potter's Wheel Thursdays at 5 PM.

-Jay

Take a pottery class this Fall

Registration opens monday August 23 at 10 AM for arts & crafts leisure courses at the University of Florida. Most classes are open to anyone 16 years of age or older:

https://www.union.ufl.edu/leisure/secure/category.asp?subj=arts

Ceramics: Start to finish- notes on glazing

Below is a PDF document with some notes on glazing your pots. Remember to wax the bottom!:

Notes on glazing

-Jay

Glaze firing this weekend

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_g/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Good day to fire! Drizzling and about 50 degrees F. Experimenting with cone 4 clay, slip, & glazes this month. Got a couple teacups, some plates, and a large casserole in besides.

Kites and Clouds

Courtesy of Linda Arbuckle:


Hannah Pate and Ashley Neukamm, UF Ceramics Seniors, have a show up:

Reitz Union Gallery

Feb 8-19^th

Kites and Clouds

Opening Reception

Thursday, Feb. 11

7-9 pm

Demo notes GP bowl

	Demo notes: GP bowl
Preparation	wedge & knead 4 pounds of soft clay & divide it into 4 1-pound balls bat bucket 1/2 full of water throwing stick small sponge needle tool cut-off wire plastic sheet or clay bag for scrap clay
Pat down the clay	Dry hands, dry clay Start the wheel turning very slowly pat clay down firmly onto the bat
Center the clay	Wet hands, wet clay Speed up the wheel (3/4 top speed on kickwheel; as fast as you can go on electric) Brace your elbows against your hips or thighs squeeze the clay from the sides up into a cone press the clay back down into a hemisphere (3x)
Open the clay	Slow down the wheel to medium-fast speed With fingers of left hand, make conical hole until clay at bottom is ¼ inch thick Make an undercut with left thumb outside bottom at 4 o'clock
Make the first pull	Slow wheel down to medium-slow speed Re-wet the clay and your hands before each pull Right hand outside, edge of hand against wheelhead at about 4 o'clock left fingertips inside at very center Left fingertips smoosh the clay up against right palm
2nd & 3rd & 4th pulls	Start each pull at the very bottom on the outside and very center on the inside pulls happen at about 4 o'clock, left fingers inside and right fingers outside For each pull, left fingertips press outward against right fingertips
Finish & cut off	Remove excess clay at the base with the throwing stick; left fingers inside keep the clay from bulging inward use the throwing stick to smooth & clean slurry from the outside of the bowl Use a sponge to remove excess water from the inside bottom Dry hands & wheelhead Clean your wire Keep the wire taught and tight against the bat Pull wire towards you and follow through Let the bowl dry to leatherhard on the bat
Tips	The softer the clay, the easier it will be to center The more thoroughly you wedge your clay, the easier it will be pull up If you have lots of air bubbles in your clay, it needs to be kneaded more thoroughly wet your hands each time you touch the clay
	© 2/3/2010 Jay Wiese

New pots

Finally got a kiln fired last weekend! I've posted the new pots in my Etsy shop.

Courtesy of Michael Kline, here's a very cool stop-motion video of potter Simon Levin throwing a large porcelain jar:

Sign up for a pottery class Monday 10 AM

Registration for Spring pottery courses opens Monday, January 11^th at 10 AM. Classes start Tuesday, January 19^th, after the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

I will be teaching Beginning Throwing Thursdays 5-7 PM for those new to making pots on the wheel, and an intermediate throwing course Tuesdays 5-7 PM for those who have already taken Beginning Wheelthrowing or equivalent.

Both courses are 7 weeks long and end just before spring break.

Cheers!
Jay

New work posted on Etsy

Check out the new work posted on my Etsy store. I'll be posting a few more pieces later this week. Still not too late to ship for Christmas!

Pottery course descriptions posted! Registration opens Jan. 11 at 10 AM

Hi Folks,

Mark your calendars: Registration for Fall leisure classes will open Monday, January 11^th and classes will start on Tuesday, January 19^th, after the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

For those new to making pots on the wheel, I will be teaching Beginning Throwing Thursdays 5-7 PM , and an intermediate throwing course Tuesdays 5-7 PM for those who have already taken Beginning Wheelthrowing (or equivalent).

Both courses are 7 weeks long and end just before spring break.

Classess take place at the Arts & Crafts Center in the basement of the Retiz Union on the University of Florida Campus. Parking is free after 4:30 pm.

Cheers,
Jay

New work!

See photos of 5 new pieces from my October 3 firing:

http://www.jaywiese.com/

Last day to register for Fall 2009 Beginning Throwing Leisure courses

Today (September 4, 2009) is the last day to register for my Beginning Throwing leisure courses at the Retiz Union Arts and Crafts Center:

https://www.union.ufl.edu/leisure/secure/index.asp?

The Tuesday evening class still has 9 spaces available (as of 9/4/2009 9:58 AM):
https://www.union.ufl.edu/leisure/secure/course.asp?cn=8044&sem=Fall

The Thursday evening class still has one space available (as of 9/4/2009 9:59 AM):
https://www.union.ufl.edu/leisure/secure/course.asp?cn=8025&sem=Fall

-Jay

Fall 2009 leisure course registration now open!

Registration has opened for leisure courses at the Reitz Union:

https://www.union.ufl.edu/leisure/secure/index.asp?

I'll be teaching two 10-week Beginning Throwing courses this semester:

One on Tuesdays:
https://www.union.ufl.edu/leisure/secure/course.asp?cn=8044&sem=Fall

...and one on Thursdays:
https://www.union.ufl.edu/leisure/secure/course.asp?cn=8025&sem=Fall

-Jay

Jay Wiese resume

Jay Wiese

611
NW 10^th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 • 352·281·1084
• wiese.jay@gmail.com

2006-present    Archivist/Library Associate 1, University of Florida libraries
Order items for library collection; streamline and automate unit workflows;
generate and distribute statistical reports; manage unit web site; provide basic computer
support for unit.

• Created a macro using Macro Express to
  quickly and accurately enter order records into Aleph from an order tracking database in MS Excel. Macro
  virtually eliminates user error and incorporates safety features to
  avoid accidental deletion of records.
  
  
  
  
• Developed a relational database using MS Access and SQL queries to
  track monographs funds. Database provides a single
  data set from which up-to-date budget reports, bulk emails and web
  pages can be generated in minutes by a single staff member. Database
  reduces error and saves about 12 staff hours per week.
  
  
  

2005-2006   Librarian, Miami-Dade Public Library System
Manage young adult and fiction
collections; provide
one-on-one computer support and bibliographic instruction; provide
reference and circulation services for patrons; Manage
volunteer program for 40 library branches; Tutor adults in basic
English literacy; assist with training of volunteer adult literacy
tutors.

• Designed an algorithm for quickly selecting books for purchase based on peer selection data.
  
  
• 
  Introduced a method for identifying low-circulation books for deselection review using LMS-generated reports and MS Excel. Used new method to identify about 2,000 volumes from 10,000 volume adult fiction collection for review; only 3 volumes from the review list were retained (nearly 100% accuracy).
  

August- October 2003    Amendments review specialist, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (Kelly Services)

Review amendment reports for group bookings on cruises & report errors to group booking agents for correction

• Developed a mail-merge to generate customized
  amendment error reports and deliver the reports via email to group booking agents. Mail merge is twice as fast as exiting method, and nearly error-free.
  
  

2000-2003    Library Technical Asst. (serials), Architecture and Fine Arts Library at UF
Perform check-in and claiming of serials for Architecture and Fine Arts Library; Provided basic
reference and bibliographic instruction at the service desk.

• 
  Improved workflows for serials claiming and check-in resulting in an estimated 50% time savings.
  
• Created databases using MS Excel to track serials backorders, serials to be bound, and duplicate periodicals.

1992-1996, 1998-2000    Gallery Preparator and Studio Assistant, Valencia CC, Orlando, FL (part-time)

Clean and organize art studios;
build and maintain studio furniture; prepare clay and glazes; assist
with installation of art exhibitions.

• Designed and manufactured a
  simple welding jig that enabled one
  person to accurately assemble sculpture stands at more than four times the rate of the existing assembly method.
• Designed, manufactured, and installed a secure display
  system for flat art composed of
  readily available off-the-shelf components that cost less than $100 in
  materials. System enabled fast install and removal of student
  artwork and protected the work from vandalism. Manufactured and installation was completed in less
  than a day.
• Created an artwork registry
  database using ClarisWorks. Database eliminated duplication of effort
  and reduced error by allowing insurance lists, artwork tags, and other data to be
  generated from a single data set.
  
  
• 
  Developed a mailing list database using ClarisWorks. Database
  eliminated need for paper-based or centrally stored contact lists and
  allowed gallery to maintain control of contact data.
  
  

1996-1997    Interlibrary Loan Asst. (work-study), Herrick Library, Alfred Univ., NY

Process patron interlibrary loan requests and request books; receive and track incoming interlibrary loan books.

• Developed
  a relational database in Alpha Four to track incoming interlibrary loan
  requests. Database replaced difficult to use paper-based system.
  Database virtually eliminated lost requests and made it possible for
  department staff to quickly determine the status of a specific loan
  request.

May-August 1996    Microfilm copy specialist, First American Title Insurance Co., Orlando

Search and print real estate
titles and title-related documents from microfilm records; perform
other clerical duties including copying and filing.

• Created a method for
  searching microfilm using automated functions of microfilm readers, becoming the fastest of 3 copy specialists within a month of hire.
  
  

1991-1994    Database developer/Electronics assembler, Mass Memory Systems, Winter Park, FL

Develop and maintain company's relational databases, assemble removable hard drives from parts for special order.

• Developed a relational database
  system using dBase IV and SQL to track and correlate product status, customer
  information, and sales lead contacts.
  Database consolidated separate and redundant datafiles, delivered
  customized reports, and imported and exported data to and from other
  software packages.

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician, February 2009

Master
of Library and Information Science, University of South Florida,
Fall 2006

Bachelor
of Fine Arts, summa cum laude, ceramic art, University of
Florida, Spring 2003

Make a platter with no trimming (video)

Here's a clever trick that'll save at least 20 minutes of fuss per platter:

http://tinyurl.com/mgt673

Fall 2009 beginning wheelthrowing courses posted!

Reitz Union arts and crafts leisure courses have been posted for the Fall semester! See course descriptions here.

I'll be teaching two Beginning Wheelthrowing courses, one on Tuesdays and one on Thursdays. Each course is 10 weeks long and costs $150 for students and $170 for everyone else. Parking is free in the Reitz Union garage and restrictions are lifted in the

Fall classes begin the week of September 7th.

Registration for these classes opens on August 31st at 10:00 am. These classes fill quickly (usually within a few hours), so sign up as soon as you can.

Jay's artists statement

My work is about nourishment, both in the physical sense
of delivering sustenance to the body in the form of food and drink, and in the
subtler sense of nourishing the soul. For me, if a pot brings some
small measure of beauty and joy to a person's life, it has done its job. The pots I value most are those that somehow seem to
breathe
freely and effortlessly; pots that embody strength and vitality, yet
also resonate with calm and ease.

Although a uniform product can be rapidly turned out using stiff
clay and an electric wheel, I
throw using very soft clay on a slowly-turning kickwheel. Pots made this way naturally and easily develop a strong character, in much the same way as slowly aged wine or cheese. In
order to retain the freshness of the soft clay, I handle my pots as little
as possible and finish them simply, often with a single glaze that
reveals the
subtle marks and inflections of the wheel.

I'm currently working on designing a range of tableware characterized by contemporary, functional shapes with proportions
inspired by the human body; surfaces that are pleasing to touch; restrained
decoration and color; and a sense of the original softness of the clay in
the finished piece.