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prospecting for clay in boston area

updated wed 23 jun 10

 

Eileen de Rosas on tue 15 jun 10


Hi clayarters,

I will be teaching a week of ceramics in an arts camp in August, and the
theme of the week is "Art Laboratory." While we are definitely going to be
making volcanoes and filling them with baking soda. food coloring and
vinegar for the last class, I wanted to do a project on clay around us in
the world, and using everyday materials to make glazes as well.

Does anyone know of a good source for usable, diggable clay in the metro
Boston area? I know of some clay in Maine (on a beach at an island), and
I've heard that there is some on Cape Cod, but I wanted something a bit
closer since I will probably be digging it myself and bringing it to the
studio. It is a day camp and four groups of 15-20 kids cycle in throughout
the day, so it is impractical to take them all digging.

The area I live in and where the art center is is urban-suburban--pretty
developed. But if anyone knows of clay in the Newton or Arlington area,
that would be so helpful! I plan on digging some for myself first and doin=
g
some testing so there are (hopefully!) no nasty surprises.

Thanks-this list is a great resource!

Eileen

David Woof on wed 16 jun 10


Eileen=3D2C =3D20

=3D20

go to the guys that dig=3D3B road construction=3D2C gas and sewer=3D2C buil=
ding c=3D
ontractors and their crews.....your county geologist who can help you intre=
=3D
pret the US geological survey=3D2C Ag agent and soils person...don't overl=
oo=3D
k local potters.

=3D20

Soda bi-carb is a strong flux with many materials as is 20 mule team.

=3D20

david woof
________________________________________________________________________
1. Prospecting for clay in Boston area
Posted by: "Eileen de Rosas" e.derosas@GMAIL.COM=3D20
Date: Tue Jun 15=3D2C 2010 10:01 am ((PDT))
=3D20
Hi clayarters=3D2C
=3D20
I will be teaching a week of ceramics in an arts camp in August=3D2C and th=
e
theme of the week is "Art Laboratory." While we are definitely going to be
making volcanoes and filling them with baking soda. food coloring and
vinegar for the last class=3D2C I wanted to do a project on clay around us =
in
the world=3D2C and using everyday materials to make glazes as well.
=3D20
Does anyone know of a good source for usable=3D2C diggable clay in the metr=
o
Boston area? I know of some clay in Maine (on a beach at an island)=3D2C an=
d
I've heard that there is some on Cape Cod=3D2C but I wanted something a bit
closer since I will probably be digging it myself and bringing it to the
studio. It is a day camp and four groups of 15-20 kids cycle in throughout
the day=3D2C so it is impractical to take them all digging.
=3D20
The area I live in and where the art center is is urban-suburban--pretty
developed. But if anyone knows of clay in the Newton or Arlington area=3D2C
that would be so helpful! I plan on digging some for myself first and doing
some testing so there are (hopefully!) no nasty surprises.
=3D20
Thanks-this list is a great resource!
=3D20
Eileen

=3D20



=3D20
_________________________________________________________________
The New Busy is not the old busy. Search=3D2C chat and e-mail from your inb=
ox=3D
.
http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=3D3DPID28326::T:WLMTAGL=
:O=3D
N:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_3=3D

Suchman ceramics on mon 21 jun 10


I remember that while going to school in Boston, just at the time that the
"Big Dig" was beginning, there was a large amount of clay excavated in
Harvard square. The ceramics dept. at the Museum School dug , cleaned and
experimented with alot of that "free" clay. There is alot under
Boston...... you ought ot do what David suggested.
-Eric


On Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 6:22 AM, David Woof wrote:

> Eileen,
>
>
>
> go to the guys that dig; road construction, gas and sewer, building
> contractors and their crews.....your county geologist who can help you
> intrepret the US geological survey, Ag agent and soils person...don't
> overlook local potters.
>
>
>
> Soda bi-carb is a strong flux with many materials as is 20 mule team.
>
>
>
> david woof
> ________________________________________________________________________
> 1. Prospecting for clay in Boston area
> Posted by: "Eileen de Rosas" e.derosas@GMAIL.COM
> Date: Tue Jun 15, 2010 10:01 am ((PDT))
>
> Hi clayarters,
>
> I will be teaching a week of ceramics in an arts camp in August, and the
> theme of the week is "Art Laboratory." While we are definitely going to b=
e
> making volcanoes and filling them with baking soda. food coloring and
> vinegar for the last class, I wanted to do a project on clay around us in
> the world, and using everyday materials to make glazes as well.
>
> Does anyone know of a good source for usable, diggable clay in the metro
> Boston area? I know of some clay in Maine (on a beach at an island), and
> I've heard that there is some on Cape Cod, but I wanted something a bit
> closer since I will probably be digging it myself and bringing it to the
> studio. It is a day camp and four groups of 15-20 kids cycle in throughou=
t
> the day, so it is impractical to take them all digging.
>
> The area I live in and where the art center is is urban-suburban--pretty
> developed. But if anyone knows of clay in the Newton or Arlington area,
> that would be so helpful! I plan on digging some for myself first and doi=
ng
> some testing so there are (hopefully!) no nasty surprises.
>
> Thanks-this list is a great resource!
>
> Eileen
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox=
.
>
> http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=3DPID28326::T:WLMTAGL=
:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_3




--
-e-in-o'side-
pagan by nature
>http://www.flickr.com/photos/42169721@N04/

Eric Hansen on tue 22 jun 10


Find your nearby Army Corp of Engineers earth construction dam at a lake.
Prospect the overflow excavation for exposed clay seams. Earth dams are
built of clay because the constant exposure to water stabilizes the
structural qualities of the clay. Then a rock cap goes over it to prevent
erosion of the clay. Dams are probably the largest thing made out of clay
but you have to have clay to make an earth dam.
- h -

On Tue, Jun 22, 2010 at 12:41 AM, Suchman ceramics wr=
ote:

> I remember that while going to school in Boston, just at the time that th=
e
> "Big Dig" was beginning, there was a large amount of clay excavated in
> Harvard square. The ceramics dept. at the Museum School dug , cleaned an=
d
> experimented with alot of that "free" clay. There is alot under
> Boston...... you ought ot do what David suggested.
> -Eric
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 6:22 AM, David Woof wrote:
>
> > Eileen,
> >
> >
> >
> > go to the guys that dig; road construction, gas and sewer, building
> > contractors and their crews.....your county geologist who can help you
> > intrepret the US geological survey, Ag agent and soils person...don't
> > overlook local potters.
> >
> >
> >
> > Soda bi-carb is a strong flux with many materials as is 20 mule team.
> >
> >
> >
> > david woof
> > _______________________________________________________________________=
_
> > 1. Prospecting for clay in Boston area
> > Posted by: "Eileen de Rosas" e.derosas@GMAIL.COM
> > Date: Tue Jun 15, 2010 10:01 am ((PDT))
> >
> > Hi clayarters,
> >
> > I will be teaching a week of ceramics in an arts camp in August, and th=
e
> > theme of the week is "Art Laboratory." While we are definitely going to
> be
> > making volcanoes and filling them with baking soda. food coloring and
> > vinegar for the last class, I wanted to do a project on clay around us =
in
> > the world, and using everyday materials to make glazes as well.
> >
> > Does anyone know of a good source for usable, diggable clay in the metr=
o
> > Boston area? I know of some clay in Maine (on a beach at an island), an=
d
> > I've heard that there is some on Cape Cod, but I wanted something a bit
> > closer since I will probably be digging it myself and bringing it to th=
e
> > studio. It is a day camp and four groups of 15-20 kids cycle in
> throughout
> > the day, so it is impractical to take them all digging.
> >
> > The area I live in and where the art center is is urban-suburban--prett=
y
> > developed. But if anyone knows of clay in the Newton or Arlington area,
> > that would be so helpful! I plan on digging some for myself first and
> doing
> > some testing so there are (hopefully!) no nasty surprises.
> >
> > Thanks-this list is a great resource!
> >
> > Eileen
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your
> inbox.
> >
> >
> http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=3DPID28326::T:WLMTAGL=
:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_3
>
>
>
>
> --
> -e-in-o'side-
> pagan by nature
> >http://www.flickr.com/photos/42169721@N04/
>

John Post on tue 22 jun 10


My best sources of local clay come from new home construction sites or
road construction sites. Look for orange barrels or houses going up.
It is much easier to grab the clay after a giant earth moving machine
digs it out of the ground for you.

John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan

:: cone 6 glaze website :: http://www.johnpost.us
:: elementary art website :: http://www.wemakeart.org
:: youtube channel :: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrPostArtTeacher