Jennifer S James
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Pottery 

I am a hand builder using clay 
She has been crafting pottery since the tender age of 13, experimenting with different forms of hand building. One of her most cherished creations is a series of pottery bird women, which she has been exploring for years. She is fascinated by the spiritual significance of birds and adds this extra layer of interest to her work, blending her art with her spiritual connection to nature. Jennifer has been exploring two new firing techniques , raku and saggar. With the help of a fellow potter Jennifer has been able to explore the unpredictable nature of saggar and raku pottery. When one decides to delve into ceramics one quickly learns the art of surrender. Jennifer has humbly learned over the years to never get attached to a piece until it is completed. To many things can go wrong with clay and raku and saggar pottery are no exception. Jennifer loves the unpredictability of these firing methods and delights in the unexpected results. Opening a saggar firing is like opening a present Christmas morning, you have no idea what to expect. It is this excitement that keeps Jennifer interested in exploring pottery and all the ways you can manipulate and change it, alchemy at its best.

Saggar Firing 
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Saggar firing is a pottery technique where clay is placed inside a container (saggar) along with various organic materials. In my saggar, I included copper wire, epsom salts, sugar, fern leaves, straw, and cobalt sulphate to produce unique effects during firing. The saggar is then put into a kiln and heated to 1382 degrees. I crafted my saggar using wet clay and aluminum foil
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Raku Firing
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​Raku pottery involves extracting the piece from the kiln while it's extremely hot, glowing red, and transferring it into a container filled with combustibles. It is crucial to cover the container once the piece begins to burn to deprive it of oxygen. After a few minutes, the pottery is submerged in water. Raku pottery is typically used for decorative purposes as it is not watertight or food-safe. Due to the firing process, there is a high risk of breakage, resulting in the pottery being more costly.

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