Firing my manabigama with Wayne Ngan
Wayne Ngan was one of Canada's greatest artists, winning the Saidye Bronfman in 1983. I was extremely lucky, and frankly honoured when after firing once with his daughter Gailan she asked if I'd be interested in hosting Wayne. With respect, it was the silliest question I've ever been asked. He was energetic, knowledgable and excited. He had not wood fired in maybe 20 years after having taken his kiln down. When I was just learning pottery in high school, I randomly happened on a 30 minute television program on him and his work. It presented him as the stereotypical serious artist but firing together was different. Congenial, fun, full of laughter, and it was a great firing.
Building and firing a wood fired soda kiln
This is the story of Judy. My wood fired, bourry box soda kiln. The name Judy is a tribute to Judy Burke whose original gas kiln which lived a few kilometers away morphed into this. I really never had any design or intention to build another kiln. Frankly, I don't particular love soda fired pots. But, Judy retired from pottery and was selling off all of her studio supplies. I went up and bought all her cone 10 clay and asked what was going to happen to the kiln. I was told they hadn't really thought about it at all asked if I wanted the bricks, and of course I said yes.