For over 20 years the focus of Joel's work has been burnished pit-fired vessels, sculptures, wall pieces, and most recently percussive instruments.  This latest endeavor comes from his involvement in performing Afro-Cuban music which relies heavily on percussion.
"There is something about the smooth polished, unglazed clay surface that I am attracted to.  I find burnishing my work to be a very intimate process.  Glaze creates a glass-like surface on a piece which is very hard, functional, but cold.  To me, the unglazed burnished surface is a much warmer and sensual one.
Like Raku, the pit-firing process has an unpredictable nature which I'm attracted to.  My pieces are fired in the ground with wood, sawdust, dung, seaweed, copper carbonate, and other organic materials which produce a variety of colors and fire markings.  Each piece develops a unique surface quality and individuality of its own."

(above photo by Michael Amsler)