Glaze Chemistry is the Cure when Reality Stops

I love glaze chemistry. The chemistry of ceramics. The chemistry of life. The chemistry of art. The chemistry between people. I love glazes. I love ceramists. I love the discussion.

Is it UMF or Segerformula? Is mole percentage, WPF or phase diagram the key to unraveling the glaze mechanisms? Looking for glaze limits or for target recipes? Does this glaze crystallize because of too little Al2O3 or too much SiO2?

The discussion is going on, tempers are running high, some are dropping out. There is a search in books and experience is looked at. Someone finds a clue, the other rejects it.

Eventually, someone will fire the glaze. The result is shared. Good or bad, it doesn’t matter. We’ll apply it. We’re adapting. This is reality.

But what happens when reality stops?

Baffling reality

I’m baffled when Trump claims his victory before the votes are counted. Baffled when politicians are called out for child molesters for no reason. Baffled when Lange Frans imagines plotting an assassination attempt on them.

Baffled when Baudet talks about the “undermining” of the Netherlands by universities. Baffled when Ismail Abou Soumayah wants to criminalize the offending of prophet Muhammad. Baffled by climate deniers.

Not baffled by insignificant individuals without morality, stomping on throats. In the grip of money, power and delusions of grandeur. As old as Methuselah. As unoriginal as a flattered portrait of a royal wag. Too insignificant to dwell on.

Baffled by people who think they gain an advantage. Baffled by people who believe them. Baffled by people who follow blindly. Baffled by so little historical awareness. Baffled by denial of reality.

“Those who can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities”
Voltaire, (François Marie Arouet, 1694 – 1778)

Glaze chemistry can’t be denied

But reality cannot be denied. No matter how loud you scream, it doesn’t make it true. No matter how many times lies are tweeted, it doesn’t make it true. Even if you believe in your own lies, that doesn’t make it true.

Glaze chemistry: test tiles not yet fired in the kiln

Glaze chemistry: test tiles in the kiln fired 1280 C

Like so many things, glaze chemistry is not easy. Sometimes you think you’re right, but you’re way off. That’s okay, that’s nice. Then you know there’s so much more you can learn.

I’m going to continue to take glaze tests. I am in the fortunate position that I still have so much to learn, that I don’t have time to delve into all the nonsense that is being spread…