Bob Chance on thu 19 nov 98
I am forwarding a message from a student doing a research project on kiln
gods.
If you have info please respond to the discussion list or to her email
address.
Thanks
Bob Chance
Hi, My name is Amy Howard at Appalachian State University. I hope I
have the right address. I am trying to write a paper
to help finish up my senior semester here in Boone. The topic is on kiln
gods. It seems that there just isn't very much information about these
little creations floating around. I am mainly interested in the history
of them, their traditional use here and in other cultures, as well as
personal use by potters you may know of or yourself. It is for an
anthropology class focusing on rituals that people practice and how the
practitioners view their practices. I would appreciate any help you can
give me. My e-mail address is
AH25963@appstate.edu. I'm sure you are busy, but if there is any way you
can respond by Sunday it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.
Amy Howard
Paul Lewing on sat 21 nov 98
At one time in my career I shared a studio for about nine months with
another potter who was an absolute fire freak. This was a man who
would pull the venturi burner on a flexible gas line out of his raku
kiln and calmly light his cigarette with it.
Michael always made a kiln goddess (not god) for each firing. They
were elaborate little sculptures of very buxom ladies. He would place
a sparkler in each of their hands, and light one when he lit the
burners. The kiln goddess was always positioned so that, when he put
the kiln into body reduction, a flame would come out and light the
other on its own. And he never saved these kiln goddesses. They were
for one firing, and after that, he broke them. Incidentally, he also
threw a tiny pinch of marijuana into each peephole when he lit the
kiln. Not too much, you understand- we needed it for ourselves.
Paul Lewing, Seattle
C M Prantl on sat 21 nov 98
very interesting chapter those kilngods, I am using kilngods for my
rakufirings and woodfirings. They seem to help but away from everything I
like the idea of it and things that feel good always give a good spirit.
I would be very interested in the history of those gods and the outcome of
the paper of Amy
carina
-----Urspr|ngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Bob Chance
An: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Datum: Freitag, 20. November 1998 00:13
Betreff: kiln gods
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I am forwarding a message from a student doing a research project on kiln
gods.
If you have info please respond to the discussion list or to her email
address.
Thanks
Bob Chance
Hi, My name is Amy Howard at Appalachian State University. I hope I
have the right address. I am trying to write a paper
to help finish up my senior semester here in Boone. The topic is on kiln
gods. It seems that there just isn't very much information about these
little creations floating around. I am mainly interested in the history
of them, their traditional use here and in other cultures, as well as
personal use by potters you may know of or yourself. It is for an
anthropology class focusing on rituals that people practice and how the
practitioners view their practices. I would appreciate any help you can
give me. My e-mail address is
AH25963@appstate.edu. I'm sure you are busy, but if there is any way you
can respond by Sunday it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.
Amy Howard
eden@sover.net on sat 21 nov 98
Hi Amy,
I have worked in pottery and around potters for more than 30 yrs now
(yikes). It is interesting that this request comes from you right now as I
am just making some kiln gods for the first time in ages, formed them last
night as a matter of fact. Another request came on the list for donations
of pottery and/or kiln gods for a fundraiser for potter Karen Karnes who
got burned out of her studio. The pots will be sold and the kiln gods
given to her and her partner as gifts.
I used to always have at least one kiln god on the gas kiln I used to have
in Berkeley. Most people had them. We always had them in the college
departments, both at Berkeley and San Jose State where I studied.
I don't know how other people develop their styles of kiln gods they make
but mine is a celtic cross, a cross within a circle on a pedistal foot, all
made of coils and about 4" tall, always unglazed, just a little pinched
thing that is special to me. I think of it as sort of a goddess thing
although probably it isn't. It feels symbolic of my brand of spirituality,
feels special, feels mine. I have also made little animals. Last night I
made a goose. Never did one of those before and was quite pleased with it.
Have done a horse's head that I know I still have somewhere, can't think
of any others.
But I don't use them anymore in my studio and I know it is because I have
an electric kiln now and there is no on-top-of-the-kiln place to put one as
there is above the door on a big gas kiln. But I made two crosses and my
goose last night and thought I would put a cross and a goose on the window
sill above the kiln so I would have my kiln gods watching over me again.
So I hope you get this post in time for it to help you. Please just let me
know you received it.
And good luck to you.
Eleanora
.............
>Hi, My name is Amy Howard at Appalachian State University. I hope I
>have the right address. I am trying to write a paper
>to help finish up my senior semester here in Boone. The topic is on kiln
>gods. It seems that there just isn't very much information about these
>little creations floating around. I am mainly interested in the history
>of them, their traditional use here and in other cultures, as well as
>personal use by potters you may know of or yourself. It is for an
>anthropology class focusing on rituals that people practice and how the
>practitioners view their practices. I would appreciate any help you can
>give me. My e-mail address is
>AH25963@appstate.edu. I'm sure you are busy, but if there is any way you
>can respond by Sunday it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot.
>Amy Howard
>
Eleanora Eden 802 869-2003
Paradise Hill
Bellows Falls, VT 05101 eden@sover.net
"Can love, through the exercise of art, overcome death?" ---SalmanRushdie
Joyce Lee on sun 22 nov 98
I hesitate to say just what my "little king" kiln god looks like. He's
pretty silly and rather primitive, but I do like him. He's made very
generally like a bell with a wide skirt, bracelets on his arms, a
medallion necklace, and a separate piece for his hair which is somewhat
reminiscent of corn rows. I made him in Vince's and Michael's
pitfiring/terrasigillata workshop summer of '97 after I'd received the
very satisfying information that there even were such things as kiln
gods. I can't bear to replace him so he's the only one I've made. Janet
of B.C. (workshop attendee) dubbed him "the little king" and said he was
"cunning." During his bisque firing somehow one of us put some still
damp closed forms on the top shelf where the l.k. was placed. The
predictable explosion was early-on and dramatic. When Janet peered in as
we stood around her awaiting the "news" with good reason for
trepidation, she delivered the inevitable dread report in her
wonderfully Canadian (unabashedly stereotyping here) understated style,
"Only the little king remains standing amidst the carnage." Such a
steadfast heart!
Joyce
In the Mojave
Joseph Carames on sun 22 nov 98
I don't know much about them. we don't have any at my regular studio
there is no room and I think it would encourage too many people to store
their stuff there.But that is my opinion.
What I have seen is that they are generally small not glazed, any sort of
object. person , animal thing whatever. This summer I took a pit firing
workshop where we may thing from raw caly and put them on the lid of the
firing kiln. Most of them broke and I don't know that any of the
remainder were saved.
anyway I wanted to put in my 2 cents
Joseph Carames
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Reid Harvey on sun 22 nov 98
Working in Guinea, our catenary arch kiln had a kiln god which was an
old shoe hanging above it. It was sometimes hard to convince the local
people that this was not some kind of witchcraft, after all, a hanging
shoe? But the shoe had simply been put there by my co-director as a
reminder of a West African proverb: The small boy cannot wear the big
boy's shoe.
Reid Harvey
Arturo M DeVitalis on mon 23 nov 98
>From Robin Hopper Ceramic Spectrum pp 36 -"if it offers any onsolation,
even potters wioth a great deal of expertise and experience do have the
odd disastrous firing. etc etc.etc.This can happen through
over-familiarity or forgetfullness, but maybe it is the powers above
telling us to beware of playing with devilish object. This is probably
why i a great number of cultures of the world, small iffigy gods are made
which sit o the kiln to protect its load and apease the gods of fire! A
wise precaution!
___________________________________________________________________
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Candise Flippin on tue 24 nov 98
Hi all!
I make kiln goddeses (very well endowed, primitive little sculptures which
sit on the top of my electric kiln. They may last one firing or several.
They are discarded (reverently) when they crumble. My firing ritual evolved
as a result of several influences including studies in Japan. Two of my
favorites include:
1) Thanking all my previous teachers in clay as well as life.
2) A piece will survive the fire if one thinks very good thoughts while
making the piece.
I also ask the kin goddess to watch over the firing, too. These all help me
stop and think about whether I have forgotten anything.
I would love to see the end result of this research.
Thanks, Candise in Sunny San Diego.
Bob Chance wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
> I am forwarding a message from a student doing a research project on kiln
> gods.
....
Bonita Cohn on wed 2 dec 98
A few years ago, there was a series of exhibitions of Art from Thailand at the
Asian Art Museum in San Francisco . One special event was a kiln god festival.
This is an annual event in Thailand. Hope this helps....Bonita Cohn
zahidi neale on tue 5 oct 99
There is a wonderful collection of Kiln Gods on the fence at Terra Studios
in Durham, Ark. If you want a GREAT vacation in Fall, tour the Ozarks there.
Terra has a big sculpture park with tile walls, and a first class
restaurant, too, where they made anything you could think of out of clay. I
have been there about 8 times in the past 12 years and it keeps getting
better.
Zee, in Slidell, LA who will retire to Ark someday.
-----Original Message-----
From: S.K. Tesar
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Monday, October 04, 1999 5:29 PM
Subject: Re: Clay Rituals?
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Chris,
> I have a customer who is an avid collector of fine crafts, both he
>and his wife avidly attend many fairs and good galleries and purchase
>frequently , anything they find that they want to ad to their wonderful
>home full of works by Southeastern Regional Crafts people and Artists.
>It is their custom to have a Christmas Open House. To this open house
>they invite the artists whose works they have purchased during the year,
>or maybe over several years as well as their many friends. Their purpose
>is three fold: they want their friends to meet the artists of the works
>they admire, they want their artists and crafts people to have free
>reign of their home to "find" the work which they now own and see how
>they have displayed it or consigned it to use, and to have a wonderful
>time - which everyone does. This is not a clay ritual, but the finest
>kind of ritual I wish would catch on with more collectors.
>
> It was at one of these Christmas open house fetes that I ran across a
>clay ritual which I found very attractive. I spotted a small , primitive
>and non fussy figure in clay and asked about it. I was told it was a Kiln
>God and they immediately produced a small quarter sheet of paper with a
>brief tale on it. It explained that this was a Kiln God, one of many that
>were created ( probably Originally) just before a firing and put near the
>mouth of the kiln. If they survived the firing - it was always a good
>load, and if not, well.... Over time, the paper explained, the Fired
>Kiln Gods were placed on the fence around the firing area - and when
>there me to be so many, it was decided to share them. So now, they are
>available to go home with any customer who chooses to have the blessings
>of a kiln god in his home.
>
> Or words to that effect. I was very impressed. One, by the ritual
>that led to a wonderful item for the potters customers to buy and share
>in the experience. I do not remember the name - perhaps they are even on
>Clayart and will rush to correct me.....but , this is how I remember it.
>
>
>Sandra K. Tesar
>North Alabama, USA
>
Elizabeth Herod on wed 12 feb 03
I already fired my raku Kiln God, and I still don=B9t have my kiln.
However, he watches over my pots when I=B9m working.
:)
Beth
Andrew Lubow on wed 12 feb 03
I was wondering how many people make Kiln Gods for good luck in firing =
and if there's a collected website or book with pictures of them?
Lois Ruben Aronow on wed 12 feb 03
On Wed, 12 Feb 2003 17:44:29 -0500, you wrote:
>I was wondering how many people make Kiln Gods for good luck in firing =
and if there's a collected website or book with pictures of them?
>
I make kiln gods with my 6 year old son. It's the only thing he'll do
in clay, and it's fun for us to do them together. He likes the idea
of making things that will chase away evil spirits.
Perhaps I'll make a page on my web site. I'd be happy to post the
kiln gods of others. =20
--------------------------------------------
=46ine Craft Porcelain - New and Updated for 2003!!
http://www.loisaronow.com=20
Pat Rogers on wed 12 feb 03
I could show you what my 5 and 4 yr. old nephews made for me in terms of
kiln god. but they look more like kiln monsters,
just think lots of eyes and big ears and messy hair and you're all set.
the wilder the better.
pat
>>> Andrew_Lubow@HOTMAIL.COM 02/12/03 04:44PM >>>
I was wondering how many people make Kiln Gods for good luck in firing
and if there's a collected website or book with pictures of them?
______________________________________________________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
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Marcia Selsor on wed 12 feb 03
This was a hot topis about 3 years ago...and another time before that.
You will find info in the archives.
Marcia
Andrew Lubow wrote:
> I was wondering how many people make Kiln Gods for good luck in firing and if there's a collected website or book with pictures of them?
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
--
Tuscany in 2003
http://home.attbi.com/~m.selsor/Tuscany2003.html
Catherine White on wed 12 feb 03
Initially, my kiln god, who has been with me three decades, was a fun thing.
Now superstition rules my logical self. I wouldn't think of firing without
its presence!
If there should be a collective website, he'd love to participate. No
laughter upon viewing him.
Many thanks,
Catherine in Yuma, AZ
My inability to emulate occasionally results in originality.
http://www.clayart.fsnet.co.uk/pp_catherine_white.html
----- snip -----
Andrew Lubow
I was wondering how many people make Kiln Gods for good luck in firing
and if there's a collected website or book with pictures of them?
Gaff Pearce on thu 13 feb 03
...uh, if you "fire" your kiln god...does he still "work"?
Gaff
Tom's E-mail on thu 13 feb 03
My kiln God [made by my grandson a few years ago] broke about a month ago.
Despite good firings subsequently, I miss him/her and was thinking only
yesterday that I need to make another. As a "hopeful atheist" [I hope there
is a God if I'm on his good side and none if I am violating some rule(s)],
it gives me great comfort to know I can make a God and put him/her to work.
Tom Sawyer
tsawyer@cfl.rr.com
Marcia Selsor on thu 13 feb 03
I visited the Heinos studio in New Hampshire back in the early 70s. They
had a kiln god for every firing of their kiln. 400+ sat around the angle
iron of the arch.
I practised this ritual at the university where I taught for 25 years.
We had a beautiful collection of kiln gods around the angle iron of two
gas kilns. When I retired , my replacements threw the kiln gods out
saying they were bad karma.
That same semester both kilns had fires and were shut down permanently.
hmmm.....
sorry , Mel. I know it isn't hocus pocus for firing kilns but a science.
Still this experience is interesting.
The one new kiln is not being used. too bad. Nils helped tremendously
with the design and they used his burners.
Marcia in Montana
--
Tuscany in 2003
http://home.attbi.com/~m.selsor/Tuscany2003.html
Lois Ruben Aronow on thu 13 feb 03
On Thu, 13 Feb 2003 07:41:57 -0800, you wrote:
>...uh, if you "fire" your kiln god...does he still "work"?
>
>Gaff
>
I always put a kiln god inside the kiln for good luck.
--------------------------------------------
=46ine Craft Porcelain - New and Updated for 2003!!
http://www.loisaronow.com=20
Culling on thu 13 feb 03
I do but I was told when a student "one should never use ones own" so I
give 'em to potters I like -actually use a dragon I made on my gas kiln and
a resin one my kids gave me -not sure about useing one of resin but it's
the thought that counts!!. never seen a web site but would like too
Steph
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Lubow"
To:
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 6:44 AM
Subject: Kiln Gods
I was wondering how many people make Kiln Gods for good luck in firing and
if there's a collected website or book with pictures of them?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Marry Lukeman on thu 13 feb 03
Whenever I connect with a fellow potter who starts to "make a living or is making a living" from potting I make a kiln god for them. One friend has now places tiny pinch pots that he uses for glaze tests around his god. He is seated at his low wheel throwing.
> From: Andrew Lubow
> Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 17:44:29 -0500
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Kiln Gods
>
> I was wondering how many people make Kiln Gods for good luck in firing and if there's a collected website or book with pictures of them?
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
Bill Edwards on sun 16 feb 03
Hi,
I think that kiln Gods are just about the right fix
for some of us. Choices!
TOM SAWYER - Throw in Hephaistos and Athena and I will
be right there to join you. Wine you say?
William Edwards
=====
http://www.tallapoosariverpottery.com/
Bill Edwards
PO Box 267
Lafayette, AL, 36862
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Janet Kaiser on wed 19 feb 03
Whether placing a clay "kiln god", "firing amulet" or any other type of
"offering", it seems to me that there is one underlying, ultimate
objective: the gathering of one's thoughts for concentrating fully upon the
job in hand.
Going through a series of predetermined steps is a ritual (in the broadest
meaning) so whether with or without religious or superstitious intention,
those who practice this little "rite" are getting their minds fully
centered and concentrated.
From a dinky kiln in the garage fired in hours to a giant climbing kiln
fired over days, the placing of a talisman is at that extremely important
point of no return on the to-do and firing check list... From now on care
and attention are vital for a successful conclusion.
But having said all that... No matter how routine, how controlled, how
well-tested... No matter if it is the first or the 1000th time they have
flicked the switch or struck a match... As every potter knows, there is
still that jittery sensation that one is dependent on some degree of luck.
No matter what our logical minds tell us, it is in "the hands of the
gods"... Singular or plural deities, which still amounts to what most
potters would simply call "luck" these days.
We have the mental capacity, technical knowledge and tools to control
everything else, so this luck factor is even more scary to human beings of
the 21st century, simply because it remains totally uncontrollable. What is
luck anyway? Where does it come from? Maybe it does not exist, but is
sometimes only present in a negative form during a firing failure? Or just
in and around certain pots? Enacting some sort of extra little
luck-bringing charm may well be the potter's way of warding off bad luck...
The evil eye.
To this very day, all cultures and folk traditions still have their own
concepts and ways of dealing with good and bad influences as people
individually or collectively perceive them. Organised religions have tried
to put rules in place to "control" this very human foible. But it has not
stopped even their most devout followers from little "transgressions"...
Pious Catholic peasants will cross themselves, but still use the
pre-Christian sign to ward off the Evil Eye. Here in Wales there are lucky
black cats, ladybirds, four-leafed clover, rabbit's feet; unlucky hares,
broken mirrors = seven years bad luck, throwing spilled salt into the face
of the devil, avoiding ladders, unlucky putting shoes on the table, giving
a coin in return for a knife (as a present)... I can think of hundreds of
examples just from this one small country and culture, where all such
notions were aggressively repressed by various denominations over the
centuries.
They are mocked as silly superstitions, but they live on. And may they be
the worse transgressions believers/followers ever enact in the eyes of
their religious leaders. At a time in history when fighting over whose is
the "true god" is the cause of so much human suffering, it is difficult for
a humanist to start to appreciate the niceties of religious dogma,
especially concerning so-called "kiln gods". It is as relevant to me
personally as debating how many angels can dance on a needle...
But each to their own.
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser - where the nights are clear and frosty, the days are warm and
sunny and the nodding daffodils as well as the nesting sparrows herald
spring. Keep shovelling snow y'all... It will soon be done for another
winter :-)
******************* FROM ********************
The Chapel of Art / Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent, Criccieth LL52 0EA, Wales, UK
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 URL: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
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