Shino Odyssey

Shino Odyssey is a juried ceramics exhibition at Baltimore Clayworks celebrating the depth and diversity of Shino glazes. Juried by studio potter and educator Matt Hyleck, the exhibition examines how Shino’s results change according to the clay body, glaze application, kiln atmosphere, firing duration, drying conditions, kiln placement, reduction cycle, and other variables. The works demonstrate the glaze family’s range, from white and orange surfaces to red and pink coloration, carbon spotting, haloing, and lining.

The exhibition also places contemporary American Shino in historical context. Traditional Japanese Shino is believed to have originated 400–500 years ago from local feldspar with smaller amounts of silica-rich ash, clay, and salt. American Shino developed in the 1970s through Virginia Wirt, a student of Warren MacKenzie, and later evolved to include carbon-trapping recipes such as Malcolm Davis Shino. Soda ash in these glazes can form sodium crystals during drying, producing distinctive patterns that artists may further control with wax or tape resists. The exhibition emphasizes Shino’s subtle beauty, unpredictability, and one-of-a-kind results, while honoring the artists and teachers who have shared recipes and influenced its development.

When: September 12 through October 31

Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Venue: Baltimore Clayworks

Juror: Matt Hyleck, a Baltimore Clayworks instructor, mentor, community builder, studio potter, and educator. His functional ceramics practice focuses on the quiet rituals of daily use. He earned a BFA from Xavier University and has been part of Baltimore Clayworks for more than two decades. His teaching emphasizes foundational skills, material exploration, repetition, and the development of an authentic personal voice.

Participating artists: June Ambro, Chris Archer, Alexandra Bellay, Shannon Blakey, Doug Blechner, Michael Bridges, Kai Brisk, Jo Brown, Ray Brown, Shannon Brownlee, Ben Burris, Dodie Campbell, Connie Christensen, Bede Clarke, Susan Cohen, Tom Coleman, Jim Connell, Guillermo Cuellar, Lewis Denver, Mark Derby, Edward Dyke, Emma Eckert, Jason Edmonds, Janling Fu, Yuri Gershtein, Chris Gustin, PJ Hargraves, Candice Hensley, Andrew Herstam, Joe Hicks, Steve Hilton, Erica Hood, Samantha Hostert, Janelle Jacobson, Jan McKeachie Johnston, Randy Johnston, Mayumi Kiefer, Lucien Koonce, Jill Fishon-Kovachick, Rebekah Krieger, Nisha Kurani, Ester Kwon, James Lee, Dick Lehman, Lee Love, Daryn Lowman, Joseph Lyon, Keegan Madigan, Anna Maraj, Sam McCall, Heidi Meissner, Dan Molyneux, Sam Momeyer, Kimberly Morey, Eric Ordway, Lucas Pacuraru, Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, Doug Peltzman, Alan Perillo, Olivier Peter-Contesse, C. Luc Phinney, Roni Polisar, Carlos Prado, John Reinking, Rebecca Savuto, Loren Scherbak, Amy Schnitzer, Ellen Schön, Luke Sheets, Hitomi Shibata, Takuro Shibata, Michael Simmons, Chris Singewald, Joe Singewald, Christopher St. John, Kiichi Takeuchi, Amelia Taylor, Jack Troy, Salvatore Vascellaro, Sharon Warrington, Hong-Ling Wee, Leathia West, Mat Wheeler, Regina Wickham, Cheston Youngberg, Noelle Zambrano, and Nancy Zimler.

Tickets: Price not available

Resources: The exhibition page provides access to an online exhibition shop, an exhibition publication, and downloadable “Shino Odyssey” glaze recipe cards.