Larry Percy

Troy, Alabama

Title: KERYGMA SERIES: Offering Vessel XIV/Birds Have Nests

Year of Creation: 2003

Glaze: Saggar fired with soluble salts, then fired to cone 6 oxidation with numerous special effects glazes (Ewen Henderson glaze and breakthrough crater glazes from Chappell's The Potter's Complete Book of Clay and Glazes)

Clay Body: Cone 6 white body with nylon integrated with other colored bodies and body stains

Dimensions: Height 13 inches, Width 12 inches

Artist's Statement: The KERYGMA SERIES explores issues of journey, Providence, transformation and reconciling conflicts between physical and spiritual states of "being." This is the first piece I made start to finish after moving to Southern Alabama from Kansas. I spent 12 years attempting to move to the West or North to enjoy the mountains and snow skiing. I was struggling with those issues of what and where home is? I put this piece in the kiln room to dry and a week later noticed a cluster of yard debris in the cup area. A small wren had built its nest in the piece. It brought to mind the analogy that Jesus used to instruct his followers about such issues: "...and the birds of the air have the nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." That wren had found contentment in this "place" - even raised a family there. I needed too as well.