Connie Christensen on sun 29 may 05
Jean wrote:>
> I am pondering the comment that someone made who said they didn't
> like the idea of scattering the ashes on the ground. This is what we
> plan to do on Father's Day in Idyllwild, CA with my husband's ashes.
> He wanted to be scattered on his favorite hiking trail. But do we
> just take hand fulls?? Cup fulls?
Hi Jean
My brother was quite an outdoors person, climbing, hiking, skiing, kayaking,
etc. and he did this all over the world. In the process he developed some
deep friendships all over also. He died 2 years ago and his ashes were to be
scattered in all of these places. So, he went around the world one more
time - in baggies. Here in Colorado, his wife, my sister and I climbed to a
beautiful high rock outcropping near Redfeather Lake to spread his ashes -
again carrying them in a baggie. We all took turns carrying him to the top
(I accidentally dropped him once and quickly apologized to him) and we each
took some ashes in our hand, said a prayer and scattered him to the wind. We
laughed a lot along the way along with the serious moments. Even dropping
him became funny, he was always slow at getting places, would stop and enjoy
the moment- and I guess he decided to stop along the way one more time.
Doesn't have anything to do with what the container is, it's the feelings
that count. I also made small covered jars for Mom and Dad and my sister and
brothers and we each have a small amount of his ashes. We still have to get
him back to the farm in Wisconsin.
Best wishes
Connie Christensen
Arvada, CO
www.conniechristensen.com
Vince Pitelka on sun 29 may 05
Dear Jeanne -
I agree with you. Each to his/her own, of course, but I think that
scattering the ashes of a beloved person in a beloved place is the most
wonderful thing that you can do, particularly when it is as per their
wishes. Every time I go to the Mendocino Coast I always visit that first
bluff above the south end of Ten Mile River Beach - the one where they
temporarily built that run-down oceanfront farmhouse used in the movie "The
Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming." That was one of my mom's
favorite spots, and that's where we scattered her ashes. I'd certainly
rather visit her there than in a graveyard or in an urn on the mantlepiece.
But for those who wish to keep grandpa's ashes around in a container, I
think that a beautiful handmade pottery urn is a wonderful solution, and I
am rather horrified that anyone would use the expensive factory-made ones
supplied by funeral directors. I suppose in that situation it is often a
case of seeking the simple and immediate solution, and the funeral directors
play upon that inclination.
Michael McDowell up in northwest Washington State makes beautiful cinerary
urns, but I don't think that he is monitoring Clayart right now. He has
some of them pictured at his website at http://www.mcdowellpottery.com/
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
Adam Yungbluth on sun 29 may 05
Not only was a thrilled to be in the show, now I have the disticnt pleasure
of creating a vessal with an applied function, I like cookies, but for
someone to make their own decision, and for ashes, is fantastic!!!
Adam
>From: Jean Lehman
>Reply-To: Clayart
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Strictly Functional Urns
>Date: Sun, 29 May 2005 21:34:00 -0400
>
>One of the first sales at the Strictly Functional Pottery National
>was to a woman whose husband had died a couple of years ago. She had
>to purchase something gaudy, ugly, and expensive for his ashes. To
>avoid this, she came to the SFPN and purchased a lovely slipped jar
>by Adam Yungbluth for her future ashes when available. She said she
>didn't want her kids to have to make a rushed decision and get
>something ugly.
>
>I am pondering the comment that someone made who said they didn't
>li
ke the idea of scattering the ashes on the ground. This is what we
>plan to do on Father's Day in Idyllwild, CA with my husband's ashes.
>He wanted to be scattered on his favorite hiking trail. But do we
>just take hand fulls?? Cup fulls? I did ask about the chunkiness, and
>they told me it was put through a grinder twice so we wouldn't have
>large chunks. Hmmm. Ideas welcome.
>
>Jean
>--
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ->
>Jean Lehman,
>jlehman73@earthlink.net (my personal email address)
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ->
>Visit the 13th annual Strictly Functional Pottery National
>on line at http://www.strictlyfunctionalpotterynational.net
>Juror: John Glick
>Both the 2004 and 2005 exhibits are on line.
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>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.
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Maurice Weitman on sun 29 may 05
At 9:34 PM -0400 on 5/29/05, Jean Lehman wrote:
>[...]He wanted to be scattered on his favorite hiking trail. But do we
>just take hand fulls?? Cup fulls? I did ask about the chunkiness, and
>they told me it was put through a grinder twice so we wouldn't have
>large chunks. Hmmm. Ideas welcome.
Hello, Jean,
I think you should put a portion in some small, covered containers,
perhaps pill bottles or similar. I inferred that you will be joining
your children on Father's Day for your ceremony.
Human ashes are heavy, being mostly bone, and they're usually fairly
finely ground with only a few, small (1/16" long) slivers among the
finer material. Yet they'll still be subject to being blown about in
anything more than a breeze, so I'd say one should merely open the
container close to the ground and sprinkle them about.
When my best friend died three years ago, his widow gave me about a
pint of his ashes. I've kept some here in my studio, and expect to
include them in a glaze for a couple of pots I'll make for her and me.
I've also scattered small amounts on a few trails that Andy and I
used to regularly hike and otherwise enjoy together.
I've also spoken with my wife about what we'd like done with our own
ashes when they're produced.
This led me to the understanding that although I wanted mine
scattered in a couple of places where she and I spent time together,
the reason was not really that *I* wanted to be there. Rather that I
thought that *she* would go to those places and feel my presence
there a bit stronger.
I think about Andy very often, certainly more than just when I'm on
one of "our" trails, but knowing a part of him is physically there to
accompany his spirit is comforting to me and allows me to "visit" him
more fully.
I hope you have a comforting, if poignant, Father's Day with your family.
Best,
Maurice
Jean Lehman on sun 29 may 05
One of the first sales at the Strictly Functional Pottery National
was to a woman whose husband had died a couple of years ago. She had
to purchase something gaudy, ugly, and expensive for his ashes. To
avoid this, she came to the SFPN and purchased a lovely slipped jar
by Adam Yungbluth for her future ashes when available. She said she
didn't want her kids to have to make a rushed decision and get
something ugly.
I am pondering the comment that someone made who said they didn't
like the idea of scattering the ashes on the ground. This is what we
plan to do on Father's Day in Idyllwild, CA with my husband's ashes.
He wanted to be scattered on his favorite hiking trail. But do we
just take hand fulls?? Cup fulls? I did ask about the chunkiness, and
they told me it was put through a grinder twice so we wouldn't have
large chunks. Hmmm. Ideas welcome.
Jean
--
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ->
Jean Lehman,
jlehman73@earthlink.net (my personal email address)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ->
Visit the 13th annual Strictly Functional Pottery National
on line at http://www.strictlyfunctionalpotterynational.net
Juror: John Glick
Both the 2004 and 2005 exhibits are on line.
Kate Johnson on sun 29 may 05
>
> I am pondering the comment that someone made who said they didn't
> like the idea of scattering the ashes on the ground. This is what we
> plan to do on Father's Day in Idyllwild, CA with my husband's ashes.
> He wanted to be scattered on his favorite hiking trail. But do we
> just take hand fulls?? Cup fulls? I did ask about the chunkiness, and
> they told me it was put through a grinder twice so we wouldn't have
> large chunks. Hmmm. Ideas welcome.
Hi, Jean...a big teapot works well...that's what I used. Seems rather
fitting, for a potter...
Best--
Kate Johnson
graphicart@epsi.net
http://www.cathyjohnson.info/
Art, History, Nature and More at Cathy Johnson's Cafepress--
http://www.cafepress.com/cathy_johnson/
Graphics/Fine Arts Press--
http://www.epsi.net/graphic/
Steve Irvine on mon 30 may 05
One of the most deeply moving experiences I've had as a potter happened a few years ago when a
close family friend was dying of cancer and she asked me to bring some jars to her so that she
could choose an urn for her ashes.
It was just a week before she died, and she was very weak, but she carefully considered each jar.
She put her hand in each one to see what it was like inside. My wife Joanie and I just sat quietly for
about an hour until our friend decided on one. I had a hard time driving home, and had to pull
over at one point.
The things we make can have such meaning at times, beyond even what we imagine.
Steve Irvine
http://www.steveirvine.com
Lee Love on mon 30 may 05
Jean Lehman wrote:
> He wanted to be scattered on his favorite hiking trail. But do we
> just take hand fulls?? Cup fulls? I did ask about the chunkiness, and
> they told me it was put through a grinder twice so we wouldn't have
> large chunks. Hmmm. Ideas welcome.
You might check with local regulations (I am no lawyer.) And I don't
recommend the procedure below...
But my step-father deposited my mother's ashes at her desired place by
making a hole in his trouser pockets and filling them with the ash,
which sprinkled out as he walked around the space.
I want a plum tree planted over my boneash. Or a token amount of ash,
anyways.
Actually, maybe some of my pots will be my legacy. Aren't my pots "more
me" than some burnt up bone? ;-)
--
李 Lee Love 大
愛 鱗
in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://hankos.blogspot.com/ Visual Bookmarks
http://ikiru.blogspot.com/ Zen and Craft
"With Humans it's what's here (he points to his heart) that makes the difference. If you don't have it in the heart, nothing you make will make a difference." ~~Bernard Leach~~ (As told to Dean Schwarz)
bonnie staffel on mon 30 may 05
Hi Clayarters,
What I find is so special about hand made urns, is that you can interview
the bereaved and personalize the pot to suit that person. Our very old cat
passed away several years ago and I made a covered jar with the small
sculpture of a sleeping cat on the lid. In front of the cat's head, I
placed a ball of yarn and a little mouse looking at Cleo. Now our beloved
Abby, our lab, passed away a few months ago. I now have the project to make
an urn for her ashes. I will have to come up with a sculpture for the lid
to depict some of her favorite toys or something. Hard to put a wagging
tail on this clay sculpture as she always greeted us when we came home with
this vigorous action to display her delight in seeing us.
A little story about when I was very young and a student at Cranbrook, I
made a very elegant simple covered jar and indicated that it was for my
ashes when I passed away. Over the years I have kept that pot but noticed
that age stress (for lack of a better reason) the pot developed a vertical
crack. It is not noticeable and wonder if it would still be useable like
that. Attending Cranbrook was one of the special markers in my life full of
wonderful experiences.
Warm regards,
Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
Charter Member Potters Council
Jocelyn McAuley on mon 30 may 05
He wanted to be scattered on his favorite hiking trail. But do we
> just take hand fulls?? Cup fulls? I did ask about the chunkiness, and
> they told me it was put through a grinder twice so we wouldn't have
> large chunks. Hmmm. Ideas welcome.
A coworker recently mixed her mother's ashes with a wildflower seed mix
and scattered the combination. This mix idea worked particularly well
with her young kids as they helped scatter Grandma's ashes.
Jocelyn
--
food: http://www.BrowniePointsBlog.com
art: http://www.LucentArts.com
Michael McDowell on tue 31 may 05
"Michael McDowell up in northwest Washington State makes beautiful
cinerary
urns, but I don't think that he is monitoring Clayart right now. "
Vince,
Thanks for the plug.... Actually I am skimming the Digest most every
day. I haven't posted much because I find most questions I feel
qualified to address are already well answered later in the same
digest. This discussion of funeral/cremation/cinerary urns has
turned open ended though so I hope I can offer not entirely
redundant fuel to the fire.
In response to Jean's initial query regarding the proper way to
scatter ashes, I would say that there is no "improper" way. It's
just a matter of suiting yourself and those you share the ceremony
with. While we on Clayart can offer suggestions or
recollections/anecdotes of how it might be done or has been done,
no one is in a position to tell you how it "ought" to be done. My
personal vision of the act is just to upturn the whole urn...
I would agree with the general sentiment expressed on Clayart that a
handmade ceramic vessel seems a particulary apt choice for a funeral
urn. Forest Lawn cemetery I believe has sites around the country,
and I've been informed that they specifically prohibit ceramic
vessels. Years ago I tried to find out why, and whether anything
could be done to change that policy. I got nowhere at the time. I'm
wondering if anyone on the list knows anything about that...
Michael McDowell
Whatcom County, WA
Michael@McDowellPottery.com
http://www.McDowellPottery.com
Steve Mills on tue 31 may 05
A friend of mine's father always refused to travel anywhere, despite his
wife's wish to see more of the world.
When he died the family took their mother travelling (and still do), and
wherever they went some of father's ashes went too and have been
scattered all over the world.
His wife's comment was *He wouldn't let me travel, so I'm doing it now,
and he can come along whether he likes it or not!*.
I rather like that.
Steve
Bath
UK
In message , Connie Christensen writes
Snip>
>He died 2 years ago and his ashes were to=
> be
>scattered in all of these places. So, he went around the world one more
>time - in baggies. Here in Colorado, his wife, my sister and I climbed to=
> a
>beautiful high rock outcropping near Redfeather Lake to spread his ashes =
>-
>again carrying them in a baggie. We all took turns carrying him to the to=
>p
>(I accidentally dropped him once and quickly apologized to him) and we ea=
>ch
>took some ashes in our hand, said a prayer and scattered him to the wind.=
> We
>laughed a lot along the way along with the serious moments. Even dropping
>him became funny, he was always slow at getting places, would stop and en=
>joy
>the moment- and I guess he decided to stop along the way one more time.
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
Kate Johnson on tue 31 may 05
Hello, Jean--
my dear old husband was not too well the last few years of his life, so
after the wonderful wake we had for him, where we put some of the ashes in
the creek at our cabin and some in the holes of the two red maple trees
(where we used the wonderful pottery teapot), I took some with me to some of
the places I had been able to hike and he had not, the last few years. It
IS for the living that we do these things, in large part...a conscious and
present reminder, but also a fulfilling of a last wish.
I really love Bonnie's idea of the urn with something personal atop
it...what a beautiful memorial to a life, whether animal or human...
I think almost anything you want and need to do should be all right. I've
taken part is several small, intimate ceremonies that made goodbye easier
for all of us.
Sometimes, alas, it's not a great idea to fulfil that last wish though. My
friend Bob was an airline pilot who owned his own small plane. He also
loved to golf--our local course abuts the small local airport. He wanted to
be scattered on the course from the window of the plane. Um. Bad idea.
Best--
Kate
Russel Fouts on wed 1 jun 05
I figure I've told enough people that my wishes will probably be respected.
I want to be made into a bone china tea set (bone ash being one of the
fluxes in bone china). Enzo says that's fine with him as long as there is a
candy dish to go along with it (sweet, huh?)
It could probably commission it from "Spone".
Russel I'm a little tea pot Fouts
Russel Fouts
Mes Potes & Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 223 02 75
Mobile: +32 476 55 38 75
Http://www.mypots.com
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Elizabeth Priddy on fri 3 jun 05
well....
since you won't be cooking in it [we hope!]
if you use Bondo or JBWeld on the inside, filling the crack and over the edge
by about a half inch, it should hold fine.
You can also use these to seal yourself in.
I might would seal the inside with water seal as well incase it has other
tendencies to crack.
E
bonnie staffel wrote:
Hi Clayarters,
What I find is so special about hand made urns, is that you can interview
the bereaved and personalize the pot to suit that person. Our very old cat
passed away several years ago and I made a covered jar with the small
sculpture of a sleeping cat on the lid. In front of the cat's head, I
placed a ball of yarn and a little mouse looking at Cleo. Now our beloved
Abby, our lab, passed away a few months ago. I now have the project to make
an urn for her ashes. I will have to come up with a sculpture for the lid
to depict some of her favorite toys or something. Hard to put a wagging
tail on this clay sculpture as she always greeted us when we came home with
this vigorous action to display her delight in seeing us.
A little story about when I was very young and a student at Cranbrook, I
made a very elegant simple covered jar and indicated that it was for my
ashes when I passed away. Over the years I have kept that pot but noticed
that age stress (for lack of a better reason) the pot developed a vertical
crack. It is not noticeable and wonder if it would still be useable like
that. Attending Cranbrook was one of the special markers in my life full of
wonderful experiences.
Warm regards,
Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
Charter Member Potters Council
______________________________________________________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
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Elizabeth Priddy*
252-504-2622
1273 Hwy 101
Beaufort, NC 28516
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
*If you are an extra-sensitive or easily-offended type:
Remember that what I say is obviously just my opinion based
on my experiences and that I, like most people, don't go around
intending to step on toes and make folks cry. Take it with a
grain of salt and move along, there are others waiting to
give me grief because of their own buttons I inadvertently
pushed...
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