Eric Moss
Raku firing is a journey through the elements: the clay (earth) is heated (fire) to around 1000c. Then the kiln opened (to the air) causing thermal shock to craze the glaze. The red hot pots are placed in a sealed container with burning sawdust, it's smoke penetrates and reveals the crackle. The still hot pots are then water quenched, cooled, cleaned and polished.
Eric's current sculptural work is inspired by seeds, nuts and engine components. The 'prayer engine' sculpture began as 'jet-exhaust- meets-prayer wheel' but have developed to suggest radio telescopes and satellite dishes. His more conventional pieces use paper resist to create black, unglazed patterns. He has begun experimenting with sacrificial glaze firing too in which all the surface pattern is created by the carbon of smoke.
