If I can pick out one personal ceramic highlight of 2023, it has to be the creation and firing of a new wood-firing kiln at The Lyde Green Pottery, just outside Bristol.
The Lyde Green Pottery is the brainchild of local ceramic artist Phil Root, who in 2021 was commissioned to develop a public art project for the new Lyde Green housing development on the north-eastern fringe of Bristol, UK. On the back of that project, it was decided to build a rapid-firing wood kiln based upon the ‘philosopher’s kiln’ design, developed by Bath-based Steve Mills.
Following on from a highly successful crowd-funding campaign and subsequent delivery of building materials (plus copious amounts of waste wood to fire), construction of the kiln commenced during July of 2023. Following a few minor design tweaks the kiln was proving itself to be very capable, easily reaching a top temperature of just over 1300ºc.
As a very valuable asset for potters and ceramic artists around and beyond the Bristol area, the kiln very quickly attracted a new close-knit community of enthusiastic potters and ceramic artists who, under Phil’s guidance worked together as an effective team during the day-long kiln firing cycles.
However, it is when the sun starts to set and the kiln temperature hits 950ºc when the magic of the kiln-firing experience really begins. A bright orange fiery cone of flame emerges from the kiln chimney, as the flames within, starved of air, begin seeking out oxygen from within the contents of the pot chamber, to give them the finished appearance that only a wood-fired kiln can deliver.
As periods of quiet contemplation of the kiln in its most fiery stage are interspersed with frantic stoking activity and adjustment of the kiln dampers, a unique photo opportunity emerges. It is the magic of this stage of the firing process that I have tried to deliver in the set of photographs that I have taken during some of this years firing sessions.
As Christmas approaches, the trusty Lyde Green kiln has now fallen silent and has been put to bed for the winter, leaving it’s firing cohort to wait in eager anticipation of when it can be bought back to its fiery glory in the spring of 2024.