"Amber River Rocks" by Nancy Loorem Adams

Stoneware ceramic, raku glazed and fired. 11" wide x 12" high x 3" deep, 2.2 lbs. 2022. Amber River Rocks is infused with copper elements coming out of the raku firing process creating atmospheric, valcanic impressions—glossy and matt surfaces. The arrangement may both be shown on the wall allowing for dried pods, feathers or other elements added to the largest piece as shown in one image, or displayed on a flat table top surface. This is a perfect piece for a small wall area, bathroom, or kitchen area.

Nancy Loorem Adams works with weaving materials—cane and reed, and ceramics to create aesthetically engaging works with references to nature. In this new body of work, she brings into your living environment a deeply felt connection with the natural world using materials and concepts.

Celebrating the shapes, sizes and forms river and beach rocks express, Loorem Adams casts actual rocks, and builds other forms in clay. Once partially dried, she carefully removes the clay, and reconstructs the rock forms into hallow, light-weight pieces which are allowed to air dry completely before being bisque fired. Once bisque fired, the pieces are individually glazed with special raku glazes, and then raku fired, or celadon glazes and electric kiln fired. Celedon glaze accentuates surface textures.

Raku glazes contain elements like cooper, iron, and sand that together with the raku kiln firing process produce atmospheric surfaces both glossy and matt. The raku technique employees fire and heat to liquify the glaze on the surface, then the piece is transferred, red hot, with tongs from the kiln to a wood chip enclosed environment where first fire and then smoke work their magic on the fast-cooling surface. Raku creates atmospherically complex surfaces.

Exhibit these pieces in wall arrangements, or on flat surfaces. Explore multiple arrangements, allowing for personal influences of the sculptural arrangement, and the fit into various architectural spaces, or arrange in Loorem Adams’ presentations using her photographs. Horizontal, vertical, waves, circles, and specimen styled arrangements lend themselves to evocative displays.

You can see more of the artist's work at www.nancylooremadams.com.