Woodfire Scribblings

Gary Hootman

There is a moment of awkwardness at the start of any series of written pieces – whether essays, op eds, “from the editor” bits – when it is standard form to express the desire to make the writings interesting and meaningful, and to try and address any issues you, the readers, would like to see discussed. And I might actually do some of that on occasion, but I will also use this forum to let you know what I am up to at Prairie Dog Pottery – pictures of firings, work in progress, information about shows and the like – as well as what other woodfire ceramists around the world are up to in their own artistic expression.

So I start this off by drawing your attention to the work of Gary Hootman and his web site www.garyhootman.com.

I have known Gary since 1990 when I was even more wet behind the proverbial clay ears than I am now. Even at that time it was clear that he lived in, and for, clay. And in particular for woodfired ceramics. As we have gotten to know each other better over the years of firings, national and international travels, and as we learned to call our less active down time together, “preparing ash glaze” (like the old potter we met in Japan as he heated water for tea over the small fire), I have come to appreciate even more his devotion to the medium and his life with it. I think he is one of the great undiscovered ceramic artists and believe your time in looking at his web site will be well spent and well rewarded. Even if you don’t end up owning any of his work, or even actually liking it, it is a good place to start our journey together in writings and exploring the wider world of woodfire ceramics.

And by the way, if there are any issues you would like to see addressed, let me know!

jek
March 2006

2008 Scribblings
2007 Scribblings
2005 Scribblings