Siegele & Haley

 Suzy Siegele and Michael Haley have been working together since they met in the 1970s. Together, they have mastered an art form known as nerikomi. This method involves working the clay into loaves which, when sliced like bread, reveal carefully constructed patterns in the clay. Each slice from a loaf is shaped into a piece of pottery. The twenty or so colors they mix are all based on the same porcelain body, which is a wonderfully vitreous and durable medium for functional work.

Suzy and Michael use an unusual firing technique to achieve the distinctive surface finish on their work. They begin the firing process using propane. At around 1600F they begin stoking the kiln with cedar splints, and then finish the firing with both gas and wood.