Terry Crook

I have been a ceramic artist for over forty five  years. Although I started out and mainly a functional potter, Much of my current work is decorative. My work recently has focused on several alternative firing techniques including saggar firing, raku, horsehair, and pit firing. The serendipitous nature of these firings models the art we find in our natural world and dramatically demonstrates that pottery is a fire art. I am currently working primarily on saggar firing. A saggar is a clay container that I make in which to fire a piece of pottery. Before the firing I place the pot in the container with many materials such as copper wire, wood shavings, copper carbonate, salt, steel wool and seaweed. I fire this container with the pot and the organic and non- organic material in it. The piece that results is a lovely blend of deliberateness and spontaneity with a hint of a landscape.