I. The Pit Fire
She watches quietly as the fire burns in the nighttime. The flame dances with the wind and rises up, up, up as if trying to reach its distant relatives in the sky. It shines bright red in contrast to the dark of the night, seducing the spectator into the dancing shadows. Of course, she is familiar with the prickly heat once at contact with the flame, but it didn't stop her from moving close. In each stoke of wood, the flame demanded to be felt through the tiniest pores of the human skin. The wood is unforgivingly sacrificed to the flame. It fuels the fire, sustaining its energy for dance. The wood crackles, perhaps laughing at the circumstance. It knows it is time to serve its purpose. Soon, it will disintegrate into ashes and in ashes it will give life to clay. The clay stands unmoved at the bottom of the hearth, enveloped in layers of sawdust and paper that will also turn to ashes like its brother. Nothing really escapes the fire, is there? The clay too, is touched by the flames and undergoes its own transformation. Its dull grayness is changed into peach orange - almost like the color of flesh. It is given life. How fascinating is this capacity of fire to destroy and create! She watches quietly as the fire burns in the nighttime. The flame dances with the wind and rises up in the sky.
II. Lual
Flowers, wood, rice, salt and wine. These were the offerings to the birthing Goddess, Lual. The spectators anxiously waited for the coming of the children. The air is filled with songs and prayer as the mother breathed in...then breathed out. It is a rhythm that went on for long hours. Hot flashes rose up from her head like a volcano ready to erupt. The anticipation is killing! When the time was ripe, the surgeons took the babies out of the mother's womb every hour. Yes, every single hour. Excitement overcame the crowd at first glance of the newly-born. The littlest things were radiating with red, the heat absorbed in their flesh and bones, they are alive! Guests showered them with paper and sawdust and a little water, as if saying, "Welcome to the world, our precious one!" What joy there was to witness the gift of life? There were tears shed, smiles shared, hearts exchanged. The sun finally greets and says congratulations to everyone for a job well done.
III. Anagama
He fed the beast with wood. The fire escaped from its mouth and the heat is absorbed by the skin. Such warmth is good on a cold night at the foot of the mountain. It is also past midnight, he noticed, but the energy is still very much alive like the blazing fire. From the background, he could hear young people singing -dancing even - while at the side were the conversations of older men. It must be the alcohol, he thought, that keeps the energy going. He has come to this potter's house like the other visitors to witness the Anagama but he is given much much more. He has been especially thankful for the company, the wisdom exchanged and that communal experience with the earth. They have transformed clay to all sorts of things - from bowls, to cups, to sculptural forms. Interesting, he exclaims, how such a simple pot can be created differently from what he was taught. He noticed the gestures of the hand, the speed of the wheel, the inclination of the body, the intuition! What inspiration! Everything seems new again.
He took his mug of beer and sat by the Anagama. The beast is awake, bursting red hot fire from its holes. He can see the flames circling around the stomach of the dragon, devouring the wood and embracing the pots inside. It is only 900 degrees. It will probably take one more day before it reaches its maximum temperature, he thought. For now, he can just watch and spend time exchanging stories with newfound friends.
Notes. Wrote this while I was still at a hype from the Tropical Blaze Wood Firing Festival at UP CFA. Sorry for romanticizing the article I'll post a more structured article (with pictures) soon.
Notes II. Pit Fire Lual and Anagama are different types of firing ceramics. Pit Firing as its name suggests is done by digging a hole in the ground. It is one of the primitive methods of firing. Lual is a sculptural Raku kiln designed by Asst. Prof. Rita Badilla-Gudino. Anagama is a big kiln that is usually fired for three days. All of these kilns are fired by wood.
Notes III. Special thanks to Ma'am Rita and Pablo Capati III for making this happen. Also thank you to the Thai potters, and the local potters for their assistance.
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