Mick Morgan(UK)
Mick studied ceramics at UWIC from 1971-’74 with the emphasis on thrown domestic ware, gas fired which he pursued after graduating. Later on his primary focus changed from gas to wood firing and around 1990 he became interested in raku firing but mainly as a teaching aid with a view to involving students in a manageable firing process. The immediacy of raku is very appealing and lends itself to creativity and exciting experiments. Mick found himself being sucked in and started to work exclusively with the raku process. This satisfied his own creative need which he felt to some extent was suppressed in the making of domestic ware.
His interest in raku hasn’t diminished and is on-going but Mick uses many forms of firing or smoking to create the desired effect. This has lead him down many roads of exploration, many futile but always exciting. Mick first tried primitive firing whilst teaching students from UWIC on a course in France and came across the primitive clay by chance; with some stunning results. This has enticed him to experiment with clay bodies aimed at primitive firing and although there has been a certain amount of success it is likely to be a long journey ahead!
Mick will lead a hands on firing at the 2011 festival. This is an opportunity for people to experience using a clay body which is not widely available in this country and is manufactured specifically for primitive firings. The artefacts that are made will be fired in a spectacular evening bonfire and can be collected when cooled. The clay fires to a range of oranges, purples, browns and greys and has a beautiful ancient quality. The clay is almost completely vitrified after the firing.
