A Crown of Bright Glory

This is a bowl I made and salt fired at @watershedceramics in 2014. It is part of a series inspired by Shaker visions. I spent most of 2014 and some of 2015 researching and making pots about the ecstatic spiritual visions of the Shakers. Most of these visions were experienced by girls or young women. They were recorded in words and drawings. They were for believers’ eyes only. They were discovered and became known to outsiders sometime in the 1970s. As I got deeper into looking at this phenomenon, I could see why believers would want to keep them within the community. It would have been easy to misunderstand this kind of experience if you were not already immersed in the lifestyle and practice of this intense religious community. Inside the bowl reads “A crown of Bright Glory” on the inside. I agonized over materials during the process of making this series. I was hesitant to use 24 karat gold luster because of it’s a bling factor. After trying a number of oxides, I was awakened during the night and didn’t actually hear an audible voice, but was very sure that I should use the gold as it would convey the otherworldliness I was trying to portray. I’m not sorry I did. I’m hoping to make another series of these over the next few years. I think the combination of clay, salt and gold are just about right, but I will likely do the initial firing with wood. #shakers #shakervisions #handmadepottery #saltfired #goldluster #making #handmade #process #wip