Next Meeting Thursday May 9, 2013 at 7 pm

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The Oklahoma Sculpture Society is an organization of Oklahoma Sculptors working, sharing, showing, and learning together. The Society meets the second Thursday of each month (7 pm) at the City Arts Center located on the state fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Annual membership dues are $30.

To contact the organization contact 

Glen Thomas.  His email address is gthomas@itlnet.net or

phone 405-387-4025 

for webpage info contact Neal Willison at naw@osuokc.edu

OSS NEWS EVENTS

OSS Dates IN THE NEWS   

  Calendar: 

From Jim Franklin:  Our own Scott Roberts has agreed to present our May program.  He will demonstrate his process for constructing a pot using coiling/wedging and how to burnish it.  He will also have a PowerPoint presentation on his work and methods.  

In 2005, Scott began to produce authentic Native American Indian pottery in the style of the ancient Muscogee tribes of the Late Woodland and Mississippian period 600 A.D. – 1650 A.D.  He has been interested in these cultures since he was a small child and has studied the old ways extensively, constantly striving to form his pieces in this fashion.  His work is one-of-a-kind, hand-built, hand-burnished and pit fired in a meticulous process closely resembling the old ways.  All pieces are signed, dated, and include his hallmark, the hand and eye representing the Great Protector. 

Scott is a registered member of the federally recognized Muscogee Creek tribe with Muscogee Creek/Choctaw heritage.  He has been a member of the Oklahoma Anthropology Assn. and Central States Archaeological Societies, Inc., since the 1970s.  He is a long-time member of the Oklahoma Sculpture Society.  

This will be another “not to miss.”  We will watch Scott demonstrate how he does his work; if you have “potter friends,” be sure you bring ‘em.   And bring sculpture to share – that’s Thursday, May 9 in the Bridge Gallery at Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center.  

Sculpt-in: 

On Saturday, May 18, there will be a sculpt-in at the Oklahoma City Zoo.  We will meet at 9:00 a.m. inside the entry.  The cost will be $8.00 per person unless you are a member.  You can choose your model from any of the animals in the park – just remember to give other visitors access so they can view them too.   We will sculpt until 4:00 p.m.; the zoo closes at 5:00 p.m.  Questions?  Call  Susan Thompson at 949-5562, or e-mail her at sthompson103@cox.net.

Medallion contest: 

  Member news: 

Heather Kaiser just made another foundry run to Colorado to drop off a new piece and pick up “Sizin’ Up the Day” and “Discussion Over,” which have been added to her website (hrkaiserstudios.com).  She took several pieces up to Jackson Hole, WY, to the Grand Teton Gallery.  She’ll be in the June edition of Western Art with a full page ad and a story about the piece “Discussion Over.”  …Former member Burneta Venosdel has been busy: they sold their farm, minerals, and have listed their house so they can move from Cleo Springs to a farm they found north of Tahlequah. She has 3 new pieces at Bronze Horse; the foundry is up and running slowly.  She just got back from Scottsdale after taking a class with Curt Mattson (“wonderful, learned a lot”) and is now in the process of moving.   She’ll be in the Rusty Gables Show next month and has a monument in the works…  Vernon Enlow has had his artwork shown at Touchmark… Linda and Jim Franklin spent the last of April in London and Paris  …Larry Waid visited with Glen Thomas and others about starting “sculpt-ins” at Philbrook and will work on getting dates set up, etc.  “Loved the Peter Rubino workshop, learned lots of new stuff.” 

Thank you! 

A huge thank-you to Mary Greear for organizing another great workshop for us!  What would we do without her? 

Bob Willis’ firing method for his solid sculpture  

Kiln: Paragon Model LT-3K

Clay: Cone 06, Longhorn Red

Sculpture: solid clay bust with paper in the head…I do not hollow the sculpture, but fire it solid.  The armature hole in the sculpture can serve as a “chimney” during the firing process, so it is best to place it on kiln furniture of some type rather than sitting flat on the bottom of the kiln.  Sitting flat on the kiln bottom can prevent the fumes, heat, and smoke from having good release. 

Upon completing the sculpting of a bust, it is good to remove it from the armature and set it aside to dry on newspaper or a smaller diameter armature.  It should dry for 30 days before firing.  Here is the process I use to fire the solid busts:

 First 3 hours….…lid totally open……kiln settings on Minimum (both dials)

Next 3 hours……lower lid to approximately 3 inches….kiln remains on Minimum

Next 3 hours…..close lid completely……kiln settings to 1 (both dials)

Next 3 hours…..insert kiln plugs ……kiln settings to 2 (both dials)

Next 3 hours…..adjust kiln settings to 3 (both dials)

Next 3 hours…..adjust kiln settings to 4 (both dials) 

Kiln usually kicks off before the final adjustment is complete….between 15 and 18 hours of total firing time. 

I usually wait at least 18 hours before opening the kiln to view the sculptures.  Never remove the sculptures from the kiln if they are still warm, as they may crack when cooled off too quickly.

This is a method I have used successfully for over 15 years…but, of course, as a disclaimer…I am not responsible for the outcome of the firing of others.:-).

 Bob Willis

808-6925 

2013 leadership: 

President – Glen Thomas                         Door Prizes – Neal Willison

Vice-President – Janie Tigert                Hospitality – Ken Hartman and Joe Hyden

Secretary – Delene Brewer                                    

Treasurer – Neal Willison                          Programs – Jim Franklin

Historian – Dru Marseilles                              Publications – Dru Marseilles

                                    Sculpt-ins – Susan Thompson

                                    Website – Neal Willison

Website:  www.ossculpture.com   

OSS Membership Form 2013

Name___________________________________________Phone________________

Address_______________________________________________________________

E-mail___________________________________Cell__________________________

Please indicate your interests in the following in order to help us in our planning:

Saturday sculpt-ins?___________   With a model?__________________________

Workshops:  1-, 2- or 3-day?_____________  With a model?__________________

     Instructors you’d like?________________________________________________

     Subjects?_________________________________________________________

Field trip ideas?________________________________________________________

Programs and/or presenters you’d like to see us have:________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Ideas for increasing meeting attendance and participation in our activities?__________

_____________________________________________________________________

   
     Would you like more social activities?___________________________________

Other comments or suggestions:________________________________________
   _____________________________________________________________________

Thank you!  Please return this along with your dues ($30) to Neal Willison at the next meeting or mail it them to him at 3612 N.W. 19^th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73107.

The Oklahoma Sculpture Society was established in the fall of 1979 as a non-profit corporation devoted to the education, appreciation and creation of three-dimensional art. 

Reminders:  The newsletter deadline is the 20th of each month.  Please send your news to Dru Marseilles, 1708 Sandpiper Drive, Edmond, OK 73034 (405-341-6570) - or e-mail it to dmarseilles@cox.net.  Dues are $30 each calendar year; $15 for students or those out-of-state members wanting only the newsletter; $50 for supporting members.  Please send to OSS Treasurer Neal Willison, 3612 N.W. 19^th Street, Oklahoma City, OK  73107.

Website:  www.ossculpture.com

Oklahoma Sculpture Society

1708 Sandpiper Drive

Edmond, OK 73034

405-341-6570

05/02/2013