The Firing Log

Interview with Davie Reneau, a hard working wood fire potter from Kentucky. Davie's ceramic art is imbued with the soft and subtle landscapes rural Kentucky, and the hard labor of wood fire. http://www.anagama-west.com/firing_log

I recently interviewed Gas Kimishima, a native of Japan residing in England. Gas found that after moving to England, he became somewhat homesick for Japan, but that he could find solace in ancient wood fired Japanese pottery. Gas' quest for a touch of his home country led him to acquire broad knowledge about medieval Japanese wood fired ceramic art. Wanting to understand the pottery he loves on its innermost levels, Gas delved far beyond simply studying pieces and identifying techniques -- he began building his own wood fired kilns and making pottery to fire in them.

Malcolm Greenwood entered adult life with a responsible education and the type of work any mother would wish for he son. But after several decades in the business world, he decided to turn an avocation in pottery, into his regular day job. For nearly two decades now, Malcolm has worked as a potter. His tale is an inspiration to all who hope to someday kick their day job in favor of becoming a studio potter.

Simon Levin practices wood fired ceramic art in Wisconsin. He approaches his art in a thoughtful manner as he pursues his dream of capturing fire in clay. Simon speaks about reduction firing as well as the importance of developing a philosophy toward clay.

Some thoughts and comments I recorded during my 8th firing of the Anagama West kiln. Probably not the most interesting podcast, but one which I think in years to come, will be fun for me to revisit. How much of what I say is flat wrong?

Fred Herbst teaches ceramic art at Corning Community College in Corning NY. Corning is famous for glass and it didn't take long before glass blowers decided to try out glass blowing during an anagama firing. Just as anagama potters strive to recreate an ancient pottery technique, glass is apparently also affected by a woodfire environment. Aside from wild experiments, Fred has been observing and noting the differences caused by varying kiln atmospheres on pottery. He describes his experiences with reduction cooling versus normal cooling.

Steve Harrison has been practicing woodfired pottery since the 60s. He has taken extraordinary steps toward self-sufficiency: he makes his own bricks from local materials which he has used to build a kiln in which he fires pottery made from local materials, glazed with local materials, and fired with wood from local sources. Steve has a wealth of knowledge and freely shares his methods and philosophy.

A discussion with Mike Morris about how he found himself working exclusively as an anagama potter after his unrelated beginnings in the photographic arts; about his kiln, his firing and his work; and a call for stokers to help him during his next firing (April 2007).