Blair Randle
Ceramics, Musical Instruments
Ever since people have been making things out of clay, they've been making flutes. Everywhere. This is paralleled in my own work, which has included prominently clay flutes, or ocarinas, (I prefer the word "flutes"), for several decades.
My flutes are often in the shapes of creatures, or have them brushed on (birds, fish, horses, reptiles, or human beings). I also make sculptural pieces, mostly horses, horse and rider, or other animals, such as Coyote. Almost all of the flutes are unglazed, colored with oxides and stains, then stone burnished before bisque firing and a final buff-up, resulting in a shiny, smooth surface, fun to touch. The technique is ancient, pre-glaze, but not "primitive," since it can't be achieved any other way. The flutes are, however, "primitive" instruments, in that anyone can play them, and yet with their sweet, recorder-like tones, have been heard in performances of professional musicians.
Art Tour Stop 1: Fireseed Clay Art Studio
