DIAN MAGIE | Clay
“Wood firing clay for me is as much about a mental/creative exploration of flame and ash on various clay bodies, slips, and glazes as it is the physical demands of preparing the wood, and the hours of stoking wood into the blasting flame. Assisting Judith Duff load and fire her wood kilns, and the many opportunities to wood fire in the area workshops and kilns for more than a decade, influenced my unlikely selection of building a wood fire kiln on retirement from arts administration. Wood fire is also about community, sharing the 36 cubic foot stacking space with fellow potters who are also on the journey to create exciting wood fire pots.”
Prior to 2010, Dian’s professional career for 28 years was in arts administration as ED of four art centers. First in Florida, then Arizona for 15 years, and from 2000-2010 as Director of the UNC Center for Craft, Creativity and Design. During this time Dian had the opportunity to work with some of the finest craft artists nationally and internationally.
In 2010 with her clay studio complete, having taken many regional workshops to refresh earlier college courses in clay and printmaking, Dian’s encore career as maker began in earnest with the construction of her wood fire kiln. Dian describes entering the field of clay after years in the company of professionally recognized masters as daunting but also exciting.
