Earth Day Weekend Wood Firing

at John Bryan Community Pottery

The Yellow Springs Community invited to the Lighting Celebration on Saturday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Studio Members at the John Bryan Community Pottery have completed their new wood kiln. An Earth Day Firing with activities celebrating the accomplishment and thanking those who worked on and contributed to the kiln is planned. The entire village is invited to join in all of the activities, or just come to the pottery over the Earth Day weekend to learn what is involved in the wood firing of pottery.

The lighting ceremony will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2011. The ceremony will include a dedication of the kiln, sharing of thoughts about the contribution to this organization in the community and then the lighting. Refreshments will be served. Villagers are also invited to stop by during the day on Friday and Saturday to see the loading of wares, and on Sunday to see the stoking of the kiln. The Pottery is located in the Penguin building behind the Bryan Center. This event will occur rain or shine.

The new 40 cubic foot kiln is called a is called a manabigama, which literally translates to “beautiful learning kiln.” The kiln, which will be fired every few months, is modeled on an ancient Japanese kiln designed to reach temperatures of 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit. It will require a continuous supply of wood throughout its 18-hour firing. The wood fired kiln will offer students, studio members, community artists and area educational institutions another aesthetic option for their fired work.

John Bryan Community Pottery has been part of the Yellow Springs arts community for well over 30 years. The studio, whose main purpose is educational, has been offering pottery classes year around to area residents, as well as workshops and shared studio space to artists for all of those years. For more information about the John Bryan Community Pottery, go to www.communitypottery.com.