NC Mountains Pre-Conference Artist

Schedule/Registration

Josh Copus Compound

Abandoning his PhD thesis in solid state physics, James established Prairie Dog Pottery Inc in 1993 in eastern Iowa, USA. Having fired his stylized human heads in a wide variety of kilns and fuels while studying ceramics, the public decided for him he should become a woodfirer.

Despite the much longer than normal time he required to become a thrower, James has almost exclusively used hand-building in his career. His sculptures are solid running up to 12 inches thick.

Over the years he built a number of kilns ranging from 8 feet to 30 feet long. He is currently firing a small kiln with a grid of vertical holes in a castable arch allowing the introduction of charcoal, corn, furnace wood-pellets, and anything else small enough to fit though the holes, virtually anywhere in the kiln.

His current kiln, and the one planned to be built and fired at Josh Copus’ home during the pre-conference, are the end result of a series of kilns designed expressly for coaling effects in the entire kiln but with reduced risk of breakage from insertion of fuel.

James has also been fortunate to be able to help bring together woodfirers from around the world for several events of 3 to 4 weeks duration to share techniques and cultural exchange.

www.prairiedogpottery.com

sandbur@netins.net