View Larger Image “Spheres with Cross,” 27 cm (11 in.) in diameter, ball clay with perlite and paper fibers. Barbro Åberg states, “Throughout the working process I try to keep focusing on the strength of the single piece, its language and the story that, in the end, is being told.”

November 14, 2007

Strong Clay for Lightweight Building

by Ceramic Arts Daily | Read Comments (3)

The work of Barbro Åberg is not easily categorized. A Swede living in Denmark, Barbro manages to escape the shackles of both traditions, borrowing the best from each: the playful evocativeness of the Swedes and the rigorous analytical approach of the Danes. In addition, she spent five years in the United States at the outset of her career; a period that still inspires her works with a sense of confidence and adventure.

PROCESSES
Often her works end up quite different from how she first imagined. They change during the work process. She enters into collaboration with the work; into a kind of dialog. “I have to listen and look; it’s not just me making the decisions. Sometimes a piece is shouting at me to change it this way or that.

“I use toilet paper for my paper clay because it is easily dissolved,” Barbro explains. “I put a roll of toilet paper into a bucket of hot water and let the paper soak for a while (preferably over night). After it has soaked and the fibers have broken down, I use a drill and a paint mixer to beat the paper fibers for approximately 5–10 minutes. Then I pour the paper fibers into a sieve, wash them and then lightly press the water out.

“Next, I mix the water and paper fibers together in a bucket. To this I add perlite, taking care to reduce dust. Then I add the ball clay and stir thoroughly. I recommend trying different ball clay for different firing temperatures. This recipe gives a wet clay mixture. In order to get a firmer clay, you can dry the mixture on a plaster bat before use or reduce the amount of water in the recipe.”

SAFETY TIP
Mix the clay outdoors! Wear a respirator with NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) approved filters while being exposed to dust.

RECIPE
Clay with perlite and paper fibers
Water................................................................22.2%
Paper fibers .......................................................11.1
Perlite (fine grain, appr. 0–2mm)...........................22.2
Ball clay.............................................................44.5
                                                                         100%

FOR MORE INFORMATION
To see more of Barbro Åberg’s work, visit www.barbroaberg.dk/.