Author: chefspank

Firings

In 2025, I completed five wood firings in February, April, May, October, and November. Reviewing my notes, the kiln was loaded with work from 13 different ceramic artists over the course of the year.
Approximately ten cords of wood were locally sourced from Grays River, Cathlamet, Ilwaco, St. Helens, and Naselle.

Projects

• Completed a second batch of mugs for Ilwaco Cider Company.
• Fired a large commission by Colin for the North Coast Land Conservancy.
• Produced a small batch of work for Riversea Gallery in support of Fisher Poets Weekend, including a collaboration with artist Duncan Berry.
• May soup bowl firing: 160 bowls loaded in support of fundraisers for The Harbor (Clatsop County) and Tides of Change (Tillamook County).
• Participated in the WCA Member Show at Kirkland Art Center Gallery, Kirkland, Washington.
• Produced a small batch of new work for the Stormy Weather Arts Festival in Cannon Beach.
• Participated in Resist at Astoria Visual Arts Gallery in Astoria, Oregon.
• Curated Local Materials, a group exhibition featuring nine ceramic artists, at the Hoffman Center for the Arts in Manzanita, Oregon.
• Hafu Potter – Random Yokai at the Cannon Beach Arts Association, Cannon Beach, Oregon. This was my largest project to date and spanned all five firings. While most of the work was fired in October, with some completed in November, testing and development began as early as February.

2026: A Look Ahead

The firing schedule for 2026 will look different. At present, three firings are planned for March, May, and November. While this may shift as new opportunities arise, this schedule better reflects the scope of work ahead.

Planned projects include:

• A small batch run of pots for Riversea Gallery in support of Fisher Poets Weekend in February.
• A major dinner event in Southern Oregon mid-year. I have already begun making work for this project and will share more details as plans take shape.
• A summer sculpture exhibition.
• A December exhibition at Riversea Gallery with artist Penelope Dews of Ashland, Oregon.

2025 was my first year as a full-time ceramic artist, and it proved to be an important year of recalibration. As the pace of firings and projects increased, I gained a clearer understanding of how much time, energy, and attention a wood kiln demands. Moving into 2026, I’m choosing to simplify and be more selective—reducing the number of firings so I can focus more fully on my personal studio work and the projects that feel most aligned. This shift is about sustainability, clarity, and making sure the work I’m committing to reflects the direction I want my practice to grow. With those lessons in mind, I’m looking ahead to the year with intention and renewed focus.

Happy New Year,
Randy

The official showcard is out for my December exhibition at the Cannon Beach Gallery.

Opening reception for my upcoming Random Yokai exhibition will be Friday, December 19 from 3 – 5PM at the Cannon Beach Gallery. I have been working on this body of work for almost a year and it has finally come to life. Hope to see you there.

Come check out my summer exhibition featuring works by Nanette Wallace, Phyllis Trowbridge, and myself. My portion of the exhibition is titled “Hafu Potter” and will consist of works recently fired at my Naselle studio kiln. Click on the image above for more information.