Expanding the limits of clay by the addition of fiberglass

Includes bibliographical references (page 27)My goal was to add another dimension to the available potentialities for working clay that would change the original characteristics or alter the surrounding space of traditional ceramics. The problem evolved from my previous works in painting and design. I felt that the three dimensional form was much more exciting than the flat surface of the canvas and hoped to somehow break down the division between painting and ceramics. I first experimented with simple distortions of traditionally formed clay objects and then added decorations. I later changed the environment or space of the decorated objects. These experiments still used decoration as surface treatment and the designs were limited by the wheel and the existing pottery techniques. The ultimate solution to my problem lay in the use of a new combination of materials, fiberglass and clay. This new material was delightfully flexible with an unlimited range of applicability. The fiberglass approach enabled me to work directly and spontaneously as one does in painting. The results strongly resembled the oils I had done which were quite painterly in expression