Luisa Baldinger

A maker of containers all of my life in clay, I am intrigued by the vessel as a metaphor for peace, plenty, fullness, a sense of well being and security. But also emptiness, hollowness, hole-ness, expectation. At this point my vessels are simply sculptural forms, vehicles for the exploration of color, surface, movement in three directions. Inspiration comes from natural forms found on hikes, in arroyos, on beaches. Roots, rocks, shell fragments fill my pockets and imagination. My firing method is unique. After forming the piece it goes through a series of firings, the last of which consists of being wrapped in a large piece of aluminum foil with an assortment of combustibles: sawdust, woodchips, peanut shells, pine needles, seaweed, with salt and copper carbonate adding to the magic. The pot, wrapped in its saggar, is placed in the kiln and fired to about 1500 degrees F. All of the stuff burns and leaves it's tell tale marks and fumes on the surface of the piece. No two are ever alike; always a surprise as they emerge from the kiln.