Nate
and Hallie Evans are devoted to functional
wood-fired ceramics. Wood-fire is an ancient, labor intensive
process in which the interaction of ash, flame and pots determines
much of the final look. The kiln must be monitored around the
clock for several days. This differs from raku, a low-fire process
done in a shorter time period. By contrast, wood-fire is a high
temperature firing, resulting in durable pots for everyday kitchen
use.
After
graduating from Luther College in the late 1990s, Nate and Hallie
spent two years as apprentices at the W.M. Hewitt Pottery in
Pittsboro, North Carolina. There they participated in all aspects
of a working pottery, including the more unusual approach of
preparing their own clay and glazes. While most potters purchase
their supplies from clay supply houses, Nate and Hallie still
try to use as many indigenous clay and glaze materials as possible. "Using these local clays and rocks enables us to create
pots that could not be duplicated even by us, in another location," they explain. Their current studio is nestled in a deep valley
near New Albin, in extreme northeastern Iowa. The firing of
their large, tube-shaped kiln to a temperature of about 2400
degrees takes place over four days, fueled by oak and ash slab
wood (a sawmill waste product).
Details:
The Gallery carries Allamakee bowls, mugs, vases, pitchers and
some covered jars. All of this work is food, microwave, and
dishwasher-safe.
