Stoking at the Tel

With my last ounce [/25grams] of energy I posted this video of young Andrew [with Netzer handing wood and Tuvia on the door] running the next-to-last stoke this morning. I filmed the last stoke as well,but it was much sloppier,so I spared you. Click on the title.

While My Camera Gently Melts

Just back - slightly singed and totally exhausted - from the night shift at the Tel Hai anagama: we finished the firing around eight in the morning,having used up all the wood available [there's quite a pottery tradition of chopping up the furniture when the wood runs out,but cone 11 was down in most of the kiln,and the test rings looked unusually good,so we refrained: most of the furniture is plastic and metal,anyway]. A good time was had by all [as usual,there were a couple of enthusiastic converts to the strenuous joys of wood-firing among the first year students] and I'm off for a few hours' sleep.

Casson Rediscovered

O Joy! I just did a quick search and found this extract of the late great Mick Casson throwing [from the film I mentioned]- and,synchronously,he's throwing a bowl [though not so low and wide].Give yourself a treat,make a cup of tea,sit down and enjoy! Note traditional British wheel tray swimming in water. Clicking on title above required.

Hevruta

Sydney and I have completed our study of Leach's "A Potter's Book",including the glossary,and are now embarking on the natural 3rd in the trilogy [first,you will recall,was Cardew's "Pioneer Pottery"]- Mick Casson's "The Craft of the Potter" - the book of the BBC film from the 70's. I remember seeing most of the series back then,and would love to see it again - anyone got a copy? It used to be in the British Council film library,but that doesn't exist any longer. Photo is mirror image,thanks to Apple PhotoBooth.

Throwing a Shallow Bowl

Clicking something here should get you to the youtube video I uploaded just now. People seem to find these shapes difficult - I think that the steel kidneys help a lot. Please note use of 2 cameras [and a few superfluous transition effects I couldn't resist trying out]- does it help?

Teapot Weather

Rainy and cool - a good opportunity to make a few teapots before the Summer's heat sets in and assembling parts of pots becomes a race against time [not that I don't do it]. While in the mood,I also made some rectangular baking dishes for the salt kiln and a bunch of natlot [washing cups] which seem to disappear from the shelves as quickly as I can make them.
Note spare lid and spare spout - the teapot handles were spares I made for the washing cups.
Ricardo called from Jerusalem to announce the birth of his new kiln [catenary arch,cross-draught,wood fired] which he has been building over the last month or so,helped by the indefatigable Pnina. Maiden firing due in mid-May -maybe I'll get some work together and participate. Richie fires more quickly than anagama firings -a day or so,if I remember correctly- in the English fashion,making functional ware glazed inside and flashed from the fire outside,with maybe a chamber for salt in the back. Mazal tov! A new wood-fired kiln in Israel is a rare and noteworthy event. Which reminds mne that the Tel Hai anagama firing is set for next week;traditionally I take the Thursday night /Friday morning stoking shift,although there are usually so many enthusiastic and energetic students around that there's not much to do.

Pots from the Anagama

This year's survivors [not too many of those cut-and-stuck pieces].Top photo of pots that came out well,bottom less so. I'll try to photograph some individually.I forgot to include the biggest [and best] piece - a large jar/vase from the batch I threw last year. There are still a couple of unfired pieces from that group of 6 or so - I hope one will make it into the Tel Hai anagama firing,due after Pesach.

Log Splitter

Meir acquired this endearing tool for this year's firing: it survived [leaking a little oil] and split a mountain of stubborn twisted olive wood.