Van Buren artist featuring 'crackling' style of pottery to show at PB art museum

Margaret Harwell Art Museum will feature the alternative fired pottery of Van Buren artist Cindy Martin in a show that opens Saturday.

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Martin’s process creates a unique “crackling” appearance to the glaze of her pottery.

Her pieces are removed from the kiln at 1,800 degrees, while they are glowing, and placed into containers with combustible materials.

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The materials burst into flame and a lid is put on the container, Martin explained. The intense heat creates the crackling appearance, allowing the dark colors to show through the glaze.

It is similar to the ancient Japanese style of raku, but adds America’s post-firing reduction process.

“I’ve been doing this type of work for about 12 years and it’s just very dynamic and exciting to me,” said Martin. “I just love the way the pieces come out. I do all the sculpture and it really suits my work.

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“I love combining my work with sculpture. I love throwing on the wheel. I have found ways to combine that, that I think is meaningful.”

Martin has worked with clay for 43 years. She traveled to many different areas before settling in Van Buren in 1982, where she does pottery work full time.

Every piece starts on the wheel, but is manipulated into different shapes, often nature-inspired.

Her farm in rural Carter County is a big part of that as well, said Martin.

“I do a lot of hiking,” she said. “We go around the river and we see a lot of herons. I do a lot of herons in my work.”

Every piece is unique because of the sculpting and firing processes used, Martin said.

“All I can say is I’ve been doing it for 43 years and it’s still exciting to me. I love making pots every day,” she said.

The opening reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the museum.