Plumes and Pregnant Bellies
We finished firing the kilns for a 120 hours last Friday. It was a hell of a couple weeks. We were splitting wood up until the day Richard and Jesus finished loading the kilns. I was looking for a job so I could pay rent, Richard closed on a newly acquired home the 4th day of the fire, Jesus was working and trying to figure out his school schedule, and Jack, in stellar fashion, held down the day shift with gusto. On top of all that we were firing with hurricane Irene just off the coast of Florida, catching some of her serious rain bands…(my thoughts are with you guys up in the northeast). The temperatures fluctuated as our pine, oak, and the ground around the kiln flooded. We continued to fire… When it was all said and done, cone 10 was liquid in the front and cone 10 curled in the back chamber. (I hate cone packs in anagama’s. I prefer looking at the fire, the pieces, and the atmosphere as guides.) I have a feeling there is going to be some very different results. Hopefully, we will all be pleasantly surprised. We dubbed this firing the “Pregnant” firing. I made a large pregnant looking vessel and Richard (his firing) and Courtney found out they are having a girl. With all this talk of new life, it is hard not to think about the future. I think all of us at Shoshin Studios are going through some transitions and are seriously thinking about where we are all going, as a functioning firing unit and individually. I am so thankful for everything… We have worked hard these couple of years, and I have learned so much… I am looking forward to seeing many more plumes of thick black smoke coming from chimneys!!
