mel jacobson on sun 25 oct 09
we have been very blessed with a new member of
our firing team at the farm.
Zac Spates, a long time worker with mark hewitt has
been firing our wood kiln. he works in concert with kevin
caufield, and between them they have made several hundred
pieces for the wood kiln. (some, very big.)
Zac is a worker, knows his stuff and seems to be able
to do the work of six.
kevin was involved with the `renaissance` festival and
was up to his ears in projects.
zac went to the farm, stayed at my place, used the
green john deere with a bucket, went up to the woods
and gathered about 50 4 inch dead saplings...chained sawed
them into 30 inch pieces and piled them...lucky things were
really dry. he was able to split many with an ax, the bigger pieces.
quick work was made of them.
our wood kiln is a `flatagama` designed by donovan palmquist.
it is a hummer. (it is featured in our new book.)
Zac loaded that kiln by himself, (think of all those smart pills
he did, all alone) started the fire with propane
to get the heat moving..and then fired the entire kiln by himself
with a few hours of help from his wife...and before kevin could
get to the farm to relieve him...it was done. about 17 hours.
you will have to take my word. the pots are racers. nice ash
affect, warm colors and the glass `hewitt` affect is stunning.
very proud of my guys. zac is a blessing. non-affected, works
hard, has had a great study with mark (two years plus) and
adds a young vigorous mind to our group.
Zac and his wife have purchased a house near the st. croix river (wisc side=
),
near stillwater, mn. kevin is going to re/locate his kiln to this new
place...and zac will build a close copy of our kiln, on his land.
he just loves this kiln. (of course he can use our kiln while things
get in place at his new home...it may take over a year.)
steady rise in temp, no stalls. he fires with glaze on most of his
pieces and likes that `subtle wood look.` he sure gets it.
he worked very well with donovan and colleen in his inaugural firing
with us this summer, made some very nice suggestions about side stoking, to=
ok
charge of his shifts and taught us all a thing or two. it is nice when
that can come from a young potter, and no strutting.
i just wanted to share the good story. i am finding many young people
with the `right stuff`....like tony c has discovered, many young people
are eager to learn craft and skill...they want to be a part of a good thing=
,
and work like mad to achieve. it has been my finding for years...many
are `starving to death` for quality craft and making good, self directed
work. they take instruction, want what is best and that is thrilling
to watch. and then when they add to the mix, and teach what they
know...it is amazing.
so.
good story.
good people.
mel
it will be fun to have cindy hosskinson work with zac...cindy has
fired the `east creek` kiln of nils' about 80 times. and, she loves
our farm kiln. i think some great things are on the horizon.
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
jonathan byler on sun 25 oct 09
feel free to send some folks like this down to alabama if they get
tired of being miserable during the cold winters... we could always
use a few more with real ambition.
On Oct 25, 2009, at 7:40 PM, mel jacobson wrote:
> we have been very blessed with a new member of
> our firing team at the farm.
> Zac Spates, a long time worker with mark hewitt has
> been firing our wood kiln. he works in concert with kevin
> caufield, and between them they have made several hundred
> pieces for the wood kiln. (some, very big.)
>
> Zac is a worker, knows his stuff and seems to be able
> to do the work of six.
>
> kevin was involved with the `renaissance` festival and
> was up to his ears in projects.
>
> zac went to the farm, stayed at my place, used the
> green john deere with a bucket, went up to the woods
> and gathered about 50 4 inch dead saplings...chained sawed
> them into 30 inch pieces and piled them...lucky things were
> really dry. he was able to split many with an ax, the bigger pieces.
> quick work was made of them.
>
> our wood kiln is a `flatagama` designed by donovan palmquist.
> it is a hummer. (it is featured in our new book.)
>
> Zac loaded that kiln by himself, (think of all those smart pills
> he did, all alone) started the fire with propane
> to get the heat moving..and then fired the entire kiln by himself
> with a few hours of help from his wife...and before kevin could
> get to the farm to relieve him...it was done. about 17 hours.
>
> you will have to take my word. the pots are racers. nice ash
> affect, warm colors and the glass `hewitt` affect is stunning.
> very proud of my guys. zac is a blessing. non-affected, works
> hard, has had a great study with mark (two years plus) and
> adds a young vigorous mind to our group.
>
> Zac and his wife have purchased a house near the st. croix river
> (wisc side),
> near stillwater, mn. kevin is going to re/locate his kiln to this new
> place...and zac will build a close copy of our kiln, on his land.
> he just loves this kiln. (of course he can use our kiln while things
> get in place at his new home...it may take over a year.)
> steady rise in temp, no stalls. he fires with glaze on most of his
> pieces and likes that `subtle wood look.` he sure gets it.
>
> he worked very well with donovan and colleen in his inaugural firing
> with us this summer, made some very nice suggestions about side
> stoking, took
> charge of his shifts and taught us all a thing or two. it is nice
> when
> that can come from a young potter, and no strutting.
>
> i just wanted to share the good story. i am finding many young people
> with the `right stuff`....like tony c has discovered, many young
> people
> are eager to learn craft and skill...they want to be a part of a
> good thing,
> and work like mad to achieve. it has been my finding for years...many
> are `starving to death` for quality craft and making good, self
> directed
> work. they take instruction, want what is best and that is thrilling
> to watch. and then when they add to the mix, and teach what they
> know...it is amazing.
> so.
> good story.
> good people.
> mel
> it will be fun to have cindy hosskinson work with zac...cindy has
> fired the `east creek` kiln of nils' about 80 times. and, she loves
> our farm kiln. i think some great things are on the horizon.
>
>
>
>
> from: minnetonka, mn
> website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
> clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
> new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
John Goode on mon 26 oct 09
Mel and All
I am going to build a wood fire kiln at my farm east of Austin TX 25 miles
and am awaiting the book before building a kiln this spring. If anyone woul=
d
like to get involved please contact me off list so the details can be sent
as when and where comes to fruition. Mels farm firings seem like a nice way
to share and learn the wood fire.There will be no cost or fee. The hard par=
t
is choosing a design! I may even want to have a small one and a big one.The=
n
I met someone at Gruene Tx clayfest yesterday who suggested I add gas to ge=
t
the first part done up to 1600 or 1800.There are so many variables involved
that ironing them out will be fun!
Looking forward to the Book. Thanks to all who contributed!
John Goode
watermarktile.com
handmadeceramictile.com
On Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 7:40 PM, mel jacobson wrote:
> we have been very blessed with a new member of
> our firing team at the farm.
> Zac Spates, a long time worker with mark hewitt has
> been firing our wood kiln. he works in concert with kevin
> caufield, and between them they have made several hundred
> pieces for the wood kiln. (some, very big.)
>
> Zac is a worker, knows his stuff and seems to be able
> to do the work of six.
>
> kevin was involved with the `renaissance` festival and
> was up to his ears in projects.
>
> zac went to the farm, stayed at my place, used the
> green john deere with a bucket, went up to the woods
> and gathered about 50 4 inch dead saplings...chained sawed
> them into 30 inch pieces and piled them...lucky things were
> really dry. he was able to split many with an ax, the bigger pieces.
> quick work was made of them.
>
> our wood kiln is a `flatagama` designed by donovan palmquist.
> it is a hummer. (it is featured in our new book.)
>
> Zac loaded that kiln by himself, (think of all those smart pills
> he did, all alone) started the fire with propane
> to get the heat moving..and then fired the entire kiln by himself
> with a few hours of help from his wife...and before kevin could
> get to the farm to relieve him...it was done. about 17 hours.
>
> you will have to take my word. the pots are racers. nice ash
> affect, warm colors and the glass `hewitt` affect is stunning.
> very proud of my guys. zac is a blessing. non-affected, works
> hard, has had a great study with mark (two years plus) and
> adds a young vigorous mind to our group.
>
> Zac and his wife have purchased a house near the st. croix river (wisc
> side),
> near stillwater, mn. kevin is going to re/locate his kiln to this new
> place...and zac will build a close copy of our kiln, on his land.
> he just loves this kiln. (of course he can use our kiln while things
> get in place at his new home...it may take over a year.)
> steady rise in temp, no stalls. he fires with glaze on most of his
> pieces and likes that `subtle wood look.` he sure gets it.
>
> he worked very well with donovan and colleen in his inaugural firing
> with us this summer, made some very nice suggestions about side stoking,
> took
> charge of his shifts and taught us all a thing or two. it is nice when
> that can come from a young potter, and no strutting.
>
> i just wanted to share the good story. i am finding many young people
> with the `right stuff`....like tony c has discovered, many young people
> are eager to learn craft and skill...they want to be a part of a good
> thing,
> and work like mad to achieve. it has been my finding for years...many
> are `starving to death` for quality craft and making good, self directed
> work. they take instruction, want what is best and that is thrilling
> to watch. and then when they add to the mix, and teach what they
> know...it is amazing.
> so.
> good story.
> good people.
> mel
> it will be fun to have cindy hosskinson work with zac...cindy has
> fired the `east creek` kiln of nils' about 80 times. and, she loves
> our farm kiln. i think some great things are on the horizon.
>
>
>
>
>
> from: minnetonka, mn
> website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
> clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html.com/%7Emelpots/clayart.html>
> new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
>
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