Michael Frasca

To make this work I start by combining various stoneware clays. The pieces are formed mostly on the potter’s wheel. I also cut, join and alter the forms before drying. Over the years I have used wood ash (mostly Oak, Locust and Cherry) as a primary ingredient in my glazes. Lately I have been formulating glazes with local limestone and local clays (Kentucky River mud and quarry clays) in combination with the wood ash. The pieces are single-fired to 2350 degrees Fahrenheit in a reducing atmosphere. An ongoing manipulation of the materials in both the clay body and the glaze is critical to my pursuit of a territory that falls somewhere between tight, classical form and a looser, more dynamic attitude. I am most satisfied when both forces are present and recognizable.