Passion Pottery :: Karla Wagner

About | Rachel Bates | Karla Wagner | Links

Do you remember the craze several years ago when the term "engineer" was built into job titles? When the "stay-at-home" mom was transformed into the "domestic engineer" and your average garbage collector introduced himself as a "sanitation engineer"? It was during this time period that I graduated with a degree in engineering. When I told people that I was a "Ceramic Engineer", I'd see their smiles go slack and their eyes wander to that far point over my shoulder as they desperately tried to "de-code" the euphemism; but I think my father put it best, "What the hell is a Ceramic Engineer?" I think the technical definition goes something like; a non-metallic material, high temperature engineer. I like to describe myself simply as "the potter's best friend."

I graduated in 1988 from the University of Missouri-Rolla with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ceramic Engineering. I came to Texas directly after graduation and went to work in the ceramic tile industry. I spent the next 11 years working for American Marazzi Tile, an Italian owned ceramic floor tile company based in Mesquite. As Marazzi's Senior Ceramic Engineer, my responsibilities included design engineering Marazzi's fast-firing clay body (fast-firing means from green tile to fired and ready-to-package in less than 35 minutes!) as well as development and quality control of all production glazes. Many of Marazzi's finished products will have as many as 10 different glazing applications! Drawn originally to the tile industry for its combination of art and science, it is understandable why, when offered the chance to work in pottery, I jumped at the oppurtunity. I have always been attracted to the creative possibilities of pottery and in 1999 I went to work as the Plant Manager for Blackjack Clay Company, an East Texas clay processing company serving the industrial potteries of Marshall, Texas, as well as many studio potters. Unfortunately, due to a decline in the retail market and increased pressure from high gas prices and low cost imports from China, many of Blackjack's clay customers were forced out of business. I left Blackjack in December of 2004.

Throughout my career I have cosulted for large industrial potteries and small studio potters all over the United States. My experience in fast-firing processes and glaze development has allowed me to bring to my customers a technical dimension that few have experienced. (technical does not have to mean devoid of the artistic touch). In 2002, my friend, painter and potter, Rachel Bates and I brought our two worlds of art and science together to form our business Passion Pottery.