MAG Galleries is pleased to announce Flow, works by Tyler Zheng, running from Aug. 7 through Aug. 30th. The artist’s wood-fired ceramics are completed with a state of mind that must accept the unpredictable throughout the process of creation.
Embracing the process
Flow represents an artist’s mindset that can accept the many unknowns and challenges associated with wood-fired ceramics. Zheng describes the creative process as “… Flow, the state where attention narrows so completely that time warps and everything else fades, and the path it opens into creating subtle and intentional design decisions that define the feel of the piece.” This state of focus is then rewarded — time in exchange for curiosity and playfulness in the invention of ceramics.
Wood-fired ceramics
Wood-burning kilns create surface finishes when the wood ash bonds with the pieces over time. This creates a natural ash glaze that can’t be controlled the way that a traditional painting or sculpture resolves itself via the intention of the artist. Changes in form, cross sections, and positioning in the kiln alter the resulting pieces, and the learning process through repetition becomes steps on a path to discovery.
Zheng describes the firing process. “These pieces were fired in wood-burning kilns at Cobb Mountain over days of continuous fire-tending. Members of the community take shifts around the clock, feeding the fire and closely watching the kiln’s behavior. The clay surfaces have no applied glaze. Wood ash is carried by the flame, melting onto the surface- a natural finish formed only by the firing itself. For all the care that goes into shaping each piece, loss is also part of the process, and some works do not survive. What remains carries the record of that collaboration: marks of flame and ash.”
Kiln props and placement
Bowl with Seashell Prints, 2.5 by 6 by 6 inches, utilizes shells as organic kiln props, surface-change reactants, and flashing agents to prevent sticking and create unique, playful marks on the finished product. Bottle (No. 1), 10 by 6 by 1 inch, experiments with surface effects and colors. While not completely controllable, colors can be directed by placement of the work in the kiln during firing, with the type of wood used, proximity to other works, and structural elements. In Untitled, 7 by 6 by 6 inches, bottle-fired on the side on oyster shells, the shells are used as kiln-shelf props to brace the piece and create a natural flux in the material and glazes, adding to surface effect and texture.
About the artist
Tyler Zheng is a ceramic artist based in San Francisco, working out of his studio in the Castro. He started exploring with clay as a mechanical engineer. While he was designing planters for a cactus collection, he brought a problem-solving sensibility to functional pottery. His unique approach to the art form found an immediate audience. Zheng began a deeper practice in functional, wood-fired pottery through working with local instructors, including Andy Ruble at Foothill College, as well as workshops and an intensive program in Jingdezhen, China, to learn traditional throwing methods. Zheng found additional inspiration when he began working with the community at Cobb Mountain Art and Ecology Project. He has been firing there since 2020, drawn to the process, natural finishes, and the sense of community.
Castro Artwalk
Flow, Works by Tyler Zheng opens during the Castro ArtWalk on Aug. 7. The ArtWalk can be enjoyed individually, or visitors can join the increasingly popular guided tour with a group of like-minded individuals. This month’s guided tour starts from stop no. 2, Chartreuse by Roje at 5 p.m.
