Where has the month gone? Sorry for the lapse in posting as we prepared for and then had the 25th anniversary firing of the East Creek anagama. There were repairs to do, work parties, then a weekend of loading, then the Wed-Sat of firing, and this Saturday will be the opening so we can see what the fire has given us.
We were blessed with good weather Friday night for the big potluck dinner outside by the kiln. Nils was honored by long-time attendees at the firings with a beautiful hand-forged Swedish wood-splitting ax, engraved with the words, "East Creek Anagama, 25 years" and on the back of the handle the words "loyal and true". The gift was presented by Brittany Hoskisson Bailey who has spent her entire 23 year long life around the firings, and who has been stoking the kiln since she was a little girl. It was a little tearful for Britt and Nils, and for all of us.
The firing went perfectly in terms of quickly getting up to temperature (2400 degrees) so we hope the results are also grand.
Grandson Jake, age 10, was here that weekend, and Britt taught him to stoke the kiln, which he adapted to quickly and loved. He was initiated with soot on his cheeks and a cheer from the crowd into the anagama stokers group by Mark Terry (above) The next generation...
2 comments:
Hi Diane!
I feel SO BLESSED to be a part of this last firing. It was inspiring to be around such a talented and dedicated group of people.
Amy
And you are such a wonderful part of this group of people. As Jake kept saying, "Everyone is sooo nice!" Or, as Mark Heimann says, "It's like there's a sign at the end of the driveway that says, 'leave your egos here'".
We are all blessed to have this community of artists in our lives....and, we peeked...the firing looks yummy!
Diane
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