August 2020 Firing and Other Summer Happenings

What a summer this has been. It’s safe to say 2020 hasn’t shaped up as any of us expected. I was slated to take part in five shows this summer, four of which have been cancelled and one has moved completely online. Things haven’t gone as planned. More to come on this front in the next few weeks.

I had long planned for a late July firing of my gas kiln but that got pushed back a few weeks as things continued to evolve with the COVID-19 pandemic. So it ended up falling on the first week of August as I was once again joined by local potters Dick Lehman, Norah Amstutz, and Codey Holliday. It was the biggest count we’ve had in the kiln so far, as we filled nearly every corner with mugs, platters, and more.

In the midst of everything going on in the world, these firings continue to be a huge source of joy for me. A chance to have a bit of community, even with masks on, has been very meaningful. As well, the journey of figuring out the kiln and its mysteries has also been enjoyable. This group of four, ranging from the veteran in my old friend Dick to newer additions to our community in Norah and Codey, has cheered each other on as our work has evolved with each firing. I am very thankful for these four folks.

As far as the actual firing is concerned, this one was the best yet. We saw some real progress made on body reduction with brilliant swipes of the flame across the bottom of our pots. Copper reds showed up a bit more, but still remain a work in progress. Overall, the quality of work was high across the board, and that made me very happy.

Here are a few standouts that I’ve photographed so far….