Come to the Art Gallery at Fruitlands and see the phenomenal artistry and diversity evident in pastel paintings created by eight regional professional artists during the opening reception of our Artists-in-Residence exhibition Layers: An Exhibit by 80 Dusty Fingers. The artists will be on hand to talk about their artwork. Light refreshments will also be provided. 

And, the ceramic art of Irina Okula who uses a Native American technique call saggar firing to create her work. Made from white earthenware clay, the pottery vessel form is made on the potter’s wheel.  After it has dried to a leather hard consistency, it is polished with a smooth stone.   The surface will eventually become very smooth and shiny.  After the clay dries completely, several thin coats of Terra Sigillata are applied and polished.  Terra Sigillata is a fine clay slip that is applied with a brush leaving behind a white surface. The piece is then fired in an electric kiln to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. After cooling, it is packed into a saggar.  

 

A saggar is an enclosed clay container which can be packed with combustible material such as sawdust, salt marsh hay, and seaweed.  The combustible materials can be soaked in solutions of iron, cobalt, copper, or yellow ochre oxides.  These combustibles are wrapped around the piece and fired in a gas kiln.  The fire, salt and combustibles all dance on the surface of the vessel, leaving beautiful marks.  These colors and marks are permanently embedded onto the surface of the vessel.