A ceramic and glaze interpretation of the historic atmospheric river that affected the west coast in January 2023, Stein uses the kiln to simulate geologic transformation including cracking, melting, flow and fluxing. Mapping themes of climate and place through experimental design, fire, and flux studies, Stein explores the wonder of ceramic material, the love of being near water, and laments the negative impacts of the Anthropocene Epoch. By leveraging the inherent fragility of ceramics, a theme emerges that contemplates the sublime, being and loss within the context of climate change in Northern California.

The image was reworked from an image acquired on January 4, 2023, at 1:20 p.m. Pacific Standard Time by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NOAA-20 satellite.

100 handmade terracotta panels were rolled and manipulated to create a large grid. Recycled blue glaze and white glaze were swirled together in ½ cup batches to create the color and marbleized effect. The glaze was then poured onto the tile for a generous and spontaneous application, guided by the hand-drawn lines that charted the image. The tiles were fired to cone 5/2200°F in an electric kiln, leveraging the high heat to distort the image and create psychedelic glaze effects. The blue glaze in this piece is 100% studio waste glaze collected during 2022 as a closed-loop sustainability effort.

The undulating surface of the tile and grid formation references a well-used navigation map and brings the individual into the piece as a player in the climate crisis. It is an investigation facing the tragedy of the Anthropocene Epoch and marks a moment in time, a collective experience, of severe historic weather.

Each tile is 17” x 7.75”, total dimensions: 144” wide x 72” tall.