Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Road tripping


This pot is going on a road trip. 

Next week Robin is packing up this pot and a trailer full of unfired 'bisque' pots and driving them south to Arizona. He is participating in an anagama firing at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff with another grad, Trevor, and some potter friends from Colorado. 

An anagama kiln is a tube kiln, long and climbing with a firebox on the low end and a chimney on the opposite. Anagama kilns originated in Korea and the aesthetic achieved in these firings is typically with the intention of building ash. The pots are stacked in such a way that the pots are in the direct path of the flame.  

Apparently the kiln at NAU is massive and the guys have been cranking out large work to fill the order for a full stack. Robin will be taking at least a dozen of his large jars with him and another dozen or so pieces that are similar in size, more sculptural. Our friend Adam Field, from Durango, CO will also be coming up for the firing and will contribute several of his large Onggi vessels, another Korean tradition. Adam just spent 10 months in South Korea doing an apprenticeship with an Onggi master. 

The large jar pictured above will only be taking a pit stop in Flagstaff. It's actual destination is slated for Phoenix where it'll be part of a USU student show for NCECA, the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, annual conference. Robin is participating in a couple of exhibitions this year for the conference, a regional student juried show and the USU one. Right after the firing in Flagstaff they'll head to Phoenix for 4 days of clay hype and hobnobbing. 

Meanwhile, the kids and I have a little road trip of our own planned......

5 comments:

gladventurer said...

Great Blog Eden. Lots of interesting data.
We enjoyed your creative ending !
Happy travels to both you and Robin.

Sue said...

Hi Eden -

Second try at posting a reply - The pot going on a road trip looks great - how big is it? It always seems to late when I want to call you these days. Look forward to being and eating in the garden with you this summer.
Sue

Adam Field said...

Sweet pot Robin!! Well shot too.

www.anns blog said...

I love that pot. Happy travels to you all.

Team Indi said...

Hey...I'm going to Vegas soon too...not f-ing soon enough....Spring Break here and the weather sucks...the kids are going bonkers and I'm having bad dreams where I arrive at the airport without my passport, ticket and luggage...I am slowly going crazy, crazy going slowly am I...