unpredictable: raku and the economy

The fiery, vibrant color might be what drew me in, but the suggestion of movement kept me mesmerized as I clicked through to each image of Judy Geerts’ ceramic figures.  The hint of a sashay, the gentle sway…oh how I want to dance with them!

Copper-flash Raku is an “Americanized version of the traditional 16th Century Japanese firing process.”  Geerts revels in the excitement that comes with trying to tame the process, coaxing a repeatable color palette out of the unpredictable Raku.  In life, the outcome of any situation is determined by many variables, and the same is true for the final color in most Raku.  Sometimes we hit the ’sweet spot’ when we least expect it. And sometimes we just dance.

My current area of focus is creating stylized Asian influenced figures that combine copper flash patina and white crackle glaze Raku processes.

Judy Geerts Portfolio

I am sending positive vibes to my daughter and her boyfriend today.  They work for a Fortune 500 company that is executing a major downsizing - systematically handing out pink slips by the dozens.  Their departments are up next - today and tomorrow will bring painful news for some (possibly them) and a sigh of relief for others.  It is a difficult time in a scary economy and we are all vulnerable.  I told her to dance.  You can’t feel bad when you dance.  Jess - just dance. Love to you and A.