"Modique Beast "

Pubb Modique: French for small & modest. This sculpture tile is a Raku fired, one-of-kind, small gargoyle beastie. in the summer of 2018, I was invited to help run a week-long Raku workshop in Taos, New Mexico, where I live. I created small, modest versions of my larger work that I call 'Beasties'. The resulting effect became an unexpected creative collaboration with fire. I sculpted & glazed, & fire & smoke did the rest. The results were so rewarding that I became inspired to fulfill this limited edition series of the 'Modique'. All of the Modique will be featured in a book of the same name in 2019. ~Mandy Stapleford Raku is a ancient way of firing clay. This work is painstakingly hand sculpted, bisque fired & then glazed. It is then placed in a Raku kiln, & when it reaches its peak temperature of 1850 F, it is pulled from the kiln, glazes molten hot, & put in a can with combustible materials like paper & sawdust, which catch fire against the hot piece. The lid is then put on, which extinguishes the flame, creating a reduction atmosphere. The ensuing smoke fills in the natural cracking in the specially formulated glazes. The Modique tile easily hangs flush to the wall with a carved out space on the back to rest on a simple screw. A velcro spot is also included if further stabilizing is needed. I have been working with clay since I was a small child. I love sculptural, architectural adornment & functional art. I've exhibited in shows nationwide, won numerous awards & have a BFA in ceramics from Philadelphia's University of the Arts. This art is created in Taos, New Mexico & is signed by the artist. Modique Beast