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Feats of Clay ~ (Part One)
2008.05.12
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1
Industrial as it looks Gladding McBean is one of the greenest factories on the planet. There is virtually no waste, everything is reused or recycled. And the stacks emit only heat from the kilns... nothing more.
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Industrial as it looks Gladding McBean is one of the greenest factories on the planet. There is virtually no waste, everything is reused or recycled. And the stacks emit only heat from the kilns... nothing more.
2
The artists studio. A total work in progress.
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The artists studio. A total work in progress.
3
Clay molds.
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Clay molds.
4
Clay plaques.. lots of them.
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Clay plaques.. lots of them.
5
Broken pieces organized in a logical way for reuse in other clay creations.
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Broken pieces organized in a logical way for reuse in other clay creations.
6
The glazing carousel. They formulate all of their own glazes here.
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The glazing carousel. They formulate all of their own glazes here.
7
Photographs of some of their work.
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Photographs of some of their work.
8
One of the many columns created for Rodeo Drive... famous or infamous to LA in Southern California.
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One of the many columns created for Rodeo Drive... famous or infamous to LA in Southern California.
9
City of Los Angeles
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City of Los Angeles
10
Jesse Cardenas master modeler and master artist. He started here as a laborer many years ago.
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Jesse Cardenas master modeler and master artist. He started here as a laborer many years ago.
11
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12
Artist humor. This was a clay arm and hand poised over a blueprint. I thought it was funny.
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Artist humor. This was a clay arm and hand poised over a blueprint. I thought it was funny.
13
One of the two Feats of Clay exhibits. The living breathing terra cotta factory that it is housed in made for an incredibly authentic atmosphere.
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One of the two Feats of Clay exhibits. The living breathing terra cotta factory that it is housed in made for an incredibly authentic atmosphere.
14
Note that the pedestals are terra cotta sewer pipe sections.
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Note that the pedestals are terra cotta sewer pipe sections.
15
The first place piece.
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The first place piece.
16
Second place.
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Second place.
17
A window inside the beehive kiln. Cones to indicate the heat of the firing in the foreground. Pipes freshly fired in the background.
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A window inside the beehive kiln. Cones to indicate the heat of the firing in the foreground. Pipes freshly fired in the background.
18
One of the many beehive kilns in full production. There was a bit of a roar from the fire as you walked past. Note the glow of the fire from the bottom peepholes. The cycle takes as much as 42 days in these kilns from start to finish.
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One of the many beehive kilns in full production. There was a bit of a roar from the fire as you walked past. Note the glow of the fire from the bottom peepholes. The cycle takes as much as 42 days in these kilns from start to finish.
19
Rows of beehive kilns. This place is huge. BEST ENLARGED
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Rows of beehive kilns. This place is huge. BEST ENLARGED
20
A closeup view of the inside of a beehive kiln loaded up with pipe.
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A closeup view of the inside of a beehive kiln loaded up with pipe.
21
A decommissioned beehive kiln now used as an art gallery.
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A decommissioned beehive kiln now used as an art gallery.
22
Another use for retired beehive kilns.
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Another use for retired beehive kilns.
23
More of that infamous pipe.
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More of that infamous pipe.
24
Last Saturday my BFF PattyB & I went to the 21st annual Feats of Clay ceramic competition at the GLADDING, McBEAN Terra Cotta Factory in nearby Lincoln, CA.
This is a worldwide juried competition, and only the best artists get chosen to display their pieces. It runs during the month of May every year, and every year I want to go, and every year I've missed it... until now. I really went to see the ceramics, but upon touring the Gladding, McBean factory the artwork became secondary.
The factory was fascinating. This is a living, breathing clay factory, in constant production since 1875. In 1875 Charles Gladding, who was a coal miner, was building a road through Lincoln for the purpose of reaching coal. He discovered one of the richest clay deposits in the world. Even today, Lincoln clay is the finest clay in the world. And the supply is enough to continue the factory's operations for at least another 400 years!!
Their first product, and still one of their mainstays, is terra cotta sewer pipe. They also make clay roof tiles, piazza floor tiles, and garden pottery. But they are most renowned for their architectural terra cotta. Buildings all over the world are adorned by Gladding McBean masterpieces. Check out the link above to see their photo gallery.
I will be posting more of the Feats of Clay pieces on my next post, and more of the factory after that.
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Comments
great angles :)
it is amazing how many different aspects there are to clay.
Excellent job Jan!! You've really captured the feel of Gladding McBean. Thanks so much for spearheading this adventure. ; ) Thanks for the door in #23!!
Jannie, that looks like a very cool place to visit. The artwork they have in there is smashing. Um, probably not the term you are supposed to use. :) The 2nd place entry is my favorite...amazing piece. I love the lines in #2 and the repeating circles in the last one. I also like #20 for the sense of vastness. Great set!
