Slightly Off Center

You know the Club Mud parking lot sale that had to be rescheduled because of smoke? Now it's been cancelled.

Lane County has moved their COVID danger level to high, largely on account of new cases among the 17-28 year-old demographic. They're expecting the uptick to last at least 3-4 weeks, more if people continue to act stupid (my phrasing, not theirs). Since Club Mud is surrounded by student rentals, including two high-rise buildings across the street and up the block, we just can't in good conscience go ahead with our gathering.

Sigh.  Gucci, gucci, little sale. It could have been fun.

You'd have thought a month of drying time for a sculpture would have been enough.

You'd have been wrong.

When I unloaded the kiln Friday, this is what I found. Despite over a month in the studio, despite a slow warmup and a hold at 180° F. for two extra hours, there was still moisture in Mumfrey the battle quail's left flank. Moisture that turned to steam in the kiln, blowing off chunks of skin and breaking his tail in two.

Oh, crap.

So as I see it, I have three choices:

1. Fire it as is and try and put the pieces together later. With lots of Bondo and paint to hide the fractures.

2. Try to rebuild from scratch, possibly fitting over the existing legs and base structure. Difficult, as clay shrinks as it dries, about 6.25% from wet to bisque. 

3. Ditch the piece entirely, possibly making something different for the Ceramic Showcase gallery.

Or, I suppose:

4. Not have a gallery piece at all.

Think I need to sleep on this. Right now I'm just too depressed.