In 1990, Cairo Cocalis began Zoo Gang Studios, a pottery and ceramic tile business in the foothills
of Oregon’s coastal mountains. Years of silversmithing, screen printing
and hand painting textiles acquainted her with numerous design techniques,
many of which she has incorporated into her ceramic work. Over the next years, her pottery was displayed in galleries in California, Oregon, New Mexico, Idaho,
Michigan, Illinois and New York. She won awards in juried tile competitions
in Texas and Pennsylvania, and sold her tile through Ann Sacks Tile & Stone showrooms for many years.
In 1992, the studio and cats were packed up and hauled towards the sun!! New Mexico became home for the next few years, and Cairo opened the Zoo Gang Studios Gallery in Madrid. After moving back to the west coast in 1996, the pottery and tile was put on hold and Flying Spark Furniture was born. ( www.flyingsparkfurniture.com ) After a long hiatus, Cairo has her hands back in the clay again!! This time, exploring a fantastic and exciting technique of coloring porcelain prior to hand building with it. This new endeavor lends itself beautifully to the new line of porcelain jewelry featured here. Each piece is unique and after being fired, the pieces are polished to achieve their unusual luster and incredibly wonderful feel - like the smoothest stone you can imagine - all without glaze. |