Couple brings back pottery ideas from trip to China

November 28, 2008 10:02 pm

— “I played music for it,” Jeff Diehl proclaimed of how he makes each of his crystallized pots look individually unique.
In all seriousness, Diehl plays the soothing sounds of Mozart, the Beatles, Herbie Hancock and Bob Dylan to transform his pottery into attractive pieces of art.
Jeff and his wife Donna say ice crystals form differently based on the energy that is transmitted.
“The idea on water crystals is, if you give them bad energy, the crystals will be ugly,” Donna said in reference to the research studies that serve as case in point.
If you say “Hitler,” a hate word or play heavy music when creating a piece of pottery, the pot is listening and will likely turn out dark, ugly and/or jagged.
Consequentially, when you play loving music or transmit positive energy toward the water and freeze it, the crystals always turn out beautiful.
Experimenting with the effects of music and energy, the Diehls studied books such as “The Message From Water” written by Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto, who conducted scientific studies on how the molecular structure of water is affected by energy, thoughts, words and music.
Jeff conducted his own Emoto-inspired experiment when creating a pot to his brother’s favorite composer, Schostacovich, which Donna calls “very violent sounding” music.
Firing his kiln at 2,350 degrees Fahrenheit, Jeff dropped the kiln temperature to 2050 and held it there for around five hours, resulting in the creation of zinc silicate crystals.
Wondering if Emoto’s research would stand true, Jeff played Schostacovich’s music during the creation of the pot, which turned out very jagged looking and unattractive.
“It looked like Schostacovich’s music,” he said.
In another case, Jeff created a tray for a choir in Pittsburgh. Donna remembered this piece distinctly, saying it was “very strange.”
“The tray came out with three distinct crystal crosses in the center. We were like, ‘OK,’” she laughed.
“That, if anything, would make me a believer.”
Jeff often uses the Beatles’ Love Album to create beautiful pieces of art.
When asked if he really believes the music affects the way his pieces turn out, Jeff says, “I’ve seen the evidence. There’s not a debate about it. It’s very consistent with how the music is — if it’s beautiful music, it’s beautiful crystal.”
Jeff says there’s energy in everything and his own personal energy is even transferred to the pots.
“I’m always in a good mood,” he laughed, so he won’t have to worry about his mood affecting his work.
The Diehls’ Thanksgiving show Friday included a large display of functional items such as pink blush altered form bowls, Korean flower bridges with Asian designs, chip and dip pots, and many pieces inspired from his travels to Korea and China.
Diehl recently spent five weeks at the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute in China as a visiting artist on behalf of West Virginia University, where he said it was like stepping foot in a living museum. “Everything was like it was 1,000 years ago.”
The institute is one of the few places in the world where traditional pottery making is still alive, and WVU sends art students and visiting artists there each summer.
The Diehls will showcase more pottery ideas they brought back from their voyage to the Far East at their Studio Christmas Show at their home studio on Friday, Dec. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4. p.m.
The studio is located at 1274 Lockbridge Road in Meadow Bridge.
For directions or more information, call 304-484-7150 or visit www.lockbridgepottery.com.
— E-mail: jayres@register-herald.com

Photos

Pictured is an up-close detailed view of one of Jeff Diehl’s crystal pieces. Jeff says there’s energy in everything and his own personal energy is even transferred to his work.