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.

Glaze tests

Coyote glaze tests from the firing this weekend:



From back to front,left to right: Seafoam satin; Lemon cream satin; Baby Blue satin; Coral satin; Hazelnut satin; Forest satin; Cherry satin; Orchid satin; Shino; Cerulean satin; Lapis stain; Alabaster satin; Mottled Blue; Charcoal satin

New work

I've posted photos of a few new pots from the firing this weekend on Flickr (hope this link works!):

http://flickr.com/gp/7596735@N02/Nj7xdo

New projects

Taking a break from porcelain tests this month. Here's a couple photos of one of the new shapes I'll be making. This one's whatcha call a 'spoon tidy', if you're English (you keep spoons in it).

As you can see, I'm experimenting with darker clay. Studio's a mess!

Colored porcelain tests

So, I've been spending the last few weeks making these clay tests. None have been fired yet (I'm planning of once-firing the first batch in a couple of weeks), but I've still learned a few things in making them:

• Grolleg porcelain is *very* non-plastic
• Grolleg porcelain with 1-15% mason stain is even *less* plasitc
• Soft porcelain is easier to throw than stiff porcelain
• Not so sure I want to work with porcelain anymore!
• wedging tiny 100g pieces of clay gives you "Nintendo thumb"
• Practice makes perfect (or at least adequate); After 100 or so of these I've more or less got the hang of throwing tiny cylinders
• Really be sure you want to do it before you commit to a 2-month project!

Anyhow, I'm kind of settling into the process and finding making multiples of the same shape a bit mantra-like. Even if I end up moving in some other direction with the work, I think I'd like keep the repetitive aspect of it, maybe making a batch of the same piece before moving on to another. Fun as design is, I'm finding it very engaging to work repetitively. Paradoxically, it seems like the shape is resolving itself a bit more thoroughly when I work this way than it does when I design on paper/computer. Highly recommend working this way, even if only for a month or two.

Here's a particularly nice yellow-orange (Mason #4685); 1.5% on the left, then 3%, then 6%, finally 12% on the right:

As you can see, the color goes straight through:

Only 36 more colors to go!

Zuzana Licko

Here's an example of a ceramics artist with a really solid body of work. Typeface designer Zuzana Licko makes *only* vases under about 10" tall in 4 or so basic shapes, with only a couple of different decorative motifs and a very limited glaze palette, yet there is astonishing variety to her work; no two pieces are alike, but they're all readily identifiable as her work.

Emigre Ceramics

Sketchup model of Brent kickwheel (kit)

Hey now!

I've posted a Google SketchUp model of my potters wheel, the Brent kickwheel kit on the web. Download it for free here!

Cheers,
Jay

Ceramics 911 resources

Hi folks,

Here are some resources for those of you who attended the 'Ceramics-911' workshop at the Arts And Crafts Center of the Reitz Union at the University of Florida on May 26, 2009.


Stay tuned; I'll be posting drawings with weights and measures of a lidded casserole similar to this one by potter John Leach (brother of Simon, below). I'll also be posting a drawing of a low serving bowl.





Simon Leach videos on YouTube




Simon Leach is an English potter currently living in Spain. Simon Leach's grandfather, Bernard Leach, was a British studio potter and art teacher. He is regarded as the "Father of British studio pottery." Simon has produced hundreds of excellent short videos about pottery and pottery technique and posted them on YouTube for free. Below are a few of what I think are his best videos for beginners.

A closer look at kneading
How to knead your clay using the spiral method

Wot kneading again!
Kneading from a different angle.

Tips on centering
How to center your clay

cross section of cylinder
Throwing a cylinder

Here a couple handouts I've made for my Beginning Throwing class:

Tumbler working drawing & notes (Adobe PDF)
This is a fully annotated, actual-size drawing of a tumbler (handleless cup) similar to this one by studio potter Sam Taylor, with clay weight and dimensions (Adobe PDF).

wedging notes 20090130.pdf
Notes on clay condition, which can make a huge difference in how easy it is to get your clay centered. (Adobe PDF).

Finally, I put together a couple of "cheat sheets" specifically for this workshop (Google Docs):

Ceramics weights and measures cheat sheet
A table of 6 small pots, their dimension, and the amount of clay needed to make them

Ceramics 911 tips sheet
Some quick fixes to common pottery problems

Cheers,
Jay

My Etsy store is online!

Come see my new Etsy store- this is where I'll post new pots as they come out of the kiln.

Since I'm committing to running some intensive clay tests for the next two months (May and June 2009), look for some new stuff towards the end of July.

Learn to throw pots on the potters wheel this summer

Hi Folks,
Here's your chance to Learn to throw pots on the potters wheel!

I'll be teaching two three-week mini-courses this summer. Each course costs $60, $50 if you're a UF student.

Classes will be held at the Arts and Crafts Center in the Reitz Union on the University of Florida campus.

Arts and Crafts > Ceramics: Tumblers - Course #8044

Learn the magic of transforming clay into useful and beautiful pots on the potter’s wheel. We’ll focus on making the tumbler form during this 3 week mini-course. No previous clay experience is necessary. The registration fee provides you with a complimentary membership to the Arts & Crafts Center from 5/21 to 6/04 and six pounds of clay. If you wish to purchase additional clay the cost is $6 for 6 pounds or a quantity rate of $20 for 25 pounds. Lockers are available for rent at the Arts & Crafts Center for $15. Dress to get "muddy" and wear closed-toe shoes to class.You must be at least 16 years old to participate.

• Student Price: $50.00
• Alumni Price: $60.00
• Staff Price: $60.00
• General Public: $60.00

• Instructor: Jay Wiese
• Dates: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - Tuesday, June 16, 2009
• Meets: Tuesday from 5-7 pm
• Location: J. Wayne Reitz Union
• Number of classes: 3
• Class size: 10
• Seats available: 10

Arts and Crafts > Ceramics: Bowls - Course #8071

Learn the magic of transforming clay into useful and beautiful pots on the potter’s wheel. We’ll focus on making the bowl form during this 3 week mini-course. No previous clay experience is necessary. The registration fee provides you with a complimentary membership to the Arts & Crafts Center from 7/14 to 7/31 and six pounds of clay. If you wish to purchase additional clay the cost is $6 for 6 pounds or a quantity rate of $20 for 25 pounds. Lockers are available for rent at the Arts & Crafts Center for $15. Dress to get "muddy" and wear closed-toe shoes to class.You must be at least 16 years old to participate.

• Student Price: $50.00
• Alumni Price: $60.00
• Staff Price: $60.00
• General Public: $60.00

• Instructor: Jay Wiese
• Dates: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 - Tuesday, July 21, 2009
• Meets: Tuesday from 5-7 pm
• Location: J. Wayne Reitz Union (University of Florida campus in Gainesville, FL)

Today's studio time

Every weekday I spend 2 hours from 4-6 PM on "studio stuff". Generally this means actually making pots, but also includes design and business/housekeeping activities (posting stuff on my Etsy store, taking photos, blogging, etc.)

Today I'm working on an epic project to test colored porcelain. A few weeks ago I had an inspiration to make some non-functional pieces using unglazed colored clay.

I've purchased 74 different 1-oz. Mason stain samples from Continental Clay, and 100 lbs. of Miller #15 Grolleg porcelain from Bennett Pottery. Over the next couple of months or so, I'll mix each mason stain with porcelain in varying amounts, then use the colored clay to throw *296* small test pieces, which I'll once-fire in my small electric kiln to cone 4.

The tricky bit here is that each of the 296 pieces will need to be mixed, weighed & wedged individually.

First Being a Potter blog post, ever!

Hello, World!