The Chapel of Art on fri 6 feb 04
Better not read this if you are squeamish... I do not know who or
what started this thread, however, I have to say it once... There
is only one scenario worse than bare legged and/or bare footed
Rakuists... And that is idiots who wear man-made fibres or long
floating skirts! I had a fit one time I attended a firing and
arrived to find the whole group wearing shell-suits and other
"drip-dry" leisure wear! All beginners milling around an open
kiln brandishing tongs, red hot pots and molten glaze!?!?
Apparently recommended by their teacher!?! I was quite sickened
by the mere thought of what could have happened but thankfully
did not, although I did not stick around to watch!! Call me
chicken, but then I probably have as much cause as anyone to know
that "heatwork" and any part of the human body do not mix.
That's because I spent several weeks in the burns unit of Alder
Hey Children's Hospital when I was eleven years old. It was so
harrowing, I recall it in more vivid detail than I really care or
wish to remember... The worst were the chip-pan children (those
who had had boiling fat poured/spilled over them) and the second
worst were those whose night clothes had caught fire. It did not
matter if it was the "with-it" Bri-nylon, Draylon, Terelyne, etc.
of the day or the traditional cotton or old-fashioned
flannelette. Whatever the name or type, the same results...
Molten skin and flesh which the burning / melting material had
branded in to make red-raw meat of young limbs and bodies. It
disfigured more than bodies and flesh forever... It seered their
very souls.
This horror is in part reinforced by stories of my grandfather
whose sister's night-dress caught fire. Although quickly rolled
up in a carpet, she died of her injuries. Naturally there was
little to be done to save her back in the 1890s. And my Aunt who
was a nurse in the WRAF during the II World War... Pulling airmen
out of burning planes, following the front line through France,
Belgium, Holland, down to Rinteln in Germany... A few survived,
but the majority usually took some days to die... Others less
injured were saved through pioneering work. Yes, lots of guinea
pigs for learning the basics of what the medics know about
skin-grafting today... The same procedures now used for
trivialities like face-lifts and other "beauty therapies". But
yes... Burning is something no one needs to learn about first
hand.
Everything should be done to prevent any possible mishap causing
or resulting in worse injury... So many possible scenarios...
Such as a tripping, stumbling, "butter-fingers" who drops, grabs
or simply turns around and brushes a pot against someone else's
arms, legs or body... Accidents DO happen so everyone is behoven
to see that a mishap cannot and does not turn into a damaging
accident or injury.
Fire-retardant material for upholstery making is available in the
UK and I know if ever I was going to become a Rakuist, I would be
up at the Mill Shop buying off-cuts to sew both leggings,
over-cuffs and aprons. Tough leather lace-up shoes or boots too,
no matter how hot the weather... Anything but give cause to smell
burning or burned flesh ever again.
MOST sincerely
Janet Kaiser
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The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : Wales : UK
Home of The International Potters' Path
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
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