It was a beautiful day in central New York on Saturday, May 28, 2016.
By beautiful, I mean the clouds were puffy white against a sky of deep blues, and although the breeze was slight, the temperatures were in the low 90’s and the sun was beating us down like a.. well, let me just say it was HOT! We’re not exactly used to 90 degree weather here in CNY, especially so early in the season – but like most folks I talked with I wasn’t complaining.
We arrived to the destination of the first wood firing of the year (there will be 2 more sessions this year)! The area seemed most welcoming with a good deal of positive loving energy. And upon quick glance, the care and work associated with building a wood-firing spot were definitely evident.
We proceeded down the path to the hot spot – literally, where high stacks of hard and soft wood sat patiently waiting for their turn to help realize the dreams and hopes of those who created more than 400 earthly creations.
Sean was the only volunteer present at the time. He welcomed us warmly (excuse the wood-firing pun), sharing the history, his insights, teaching us about the wood-firing process and the furnace. We are definitely appreciative of his wealth of knowledge and generosity!
Sean shared how the surfaces of the pottery pieces could be affected by their placement and direction facing the fire.
The addition of soda ash circulates in the furnace to help produce a glazed effect on as many surface locations as possible.
We stayed only a short time but learned a lot!
I am truly in awe and in appreciation for all the people that worked together to make the wood firing a reality.
Oneida Shark Pottery 