Letter Japan Society 2003

Kamaka Pottery
VALENTINE RD, R.D.5 HASTINGS, NEW ZEALAND. PHONE (06) 879-9555

http:// home.clear.net.nz /pages/anagama

12.6.2003

Barry Chapman
Secretary/Treasurer
Japan Society of Hawke’s Bay
P. O. Box 5023
NAPIER

Dear Barry,

Thank you for your letter of June 6th. and the copy of your society’s newsletter.

Please find enclosed an article you may like to use in your next newsletter. I am concerned that I have made it far too long and I would be happy if you were to edit it down or even divided it into two parts and spread it over two issues. Alternatively, please edit the Anagama leaflet to the size you need.

Two photos are also enclosed – one of a Mizusashi (Water Jar) by Estelle and the other a general view of the Anagama Kiln taken during a firing. I would appreciate the return of these photos when you have finished with them.

When you were here you did explain that the Society was now mainly a business grouping but I would like to join as an individual member and enclose my cheque and application form.

Yours faithfully,
Bruce
Bruce Martin

Some of our pots, and those made by Mr. Fujii while in New Zealand, were shipped to Japan and we had a successful joint exhibition with him at the Mitsukoshi Art Gallery in Osaka in 1984. During the exhibition we were supported (sponsored) by Dr. T. I. Kawase of the Japan – New Zealand Society of Kobe. Dr. Kawase had studied Grasslands Science at Lincoln College, Christchurch, New Zealand, in the early 1930’s.

Since 1984 we have continued to make more traditional Japanese pots fired in our anagama. Ikebana containers, as well as some Tea Ceremony wares, have been made and fired and we have had several successful exhibitions in New Zealand. Although invited to have further exhibitions in Japan the costs and other difficulties have made such ventures impossible. However, last year I was invited to the 2002 Aomori International Wood Fire Festival held at Goshogawara.

You are welcome to visit the Kamaka Gallery at 64 Valentine Road, R D 5, Hastings to see the kilns and view the pots. I am open most days between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Phone:- 879 9555

Bruce Martin.

http:// home.clear.net.nz /pages/anagama
e.mail:- [email protected]
Phone (06) 879 9555

Bruce
Sorry for delay in returning
I have actually supplied article for a new National Newsletter publication coming out of Auckland in a couple of months
Cheers
Barry Chapman

Kamaka Pottery
VALENTINE ROAD, RD 5, HASTINGS, NEW ZEALAND. PHONE (06) 879 9555

ANAGAMA

The wood fired pots made by Estelle and Bruce Martin are unique in New Zealand. They are fired in a modern anagama kiln in the traditional manner.

Anagama is a Japanese word, ‘ana’ meaning hole or cave and ‘gama’ meaning kiln. The original anagama were built directly into clay hillsides as an upward sloping tunnel. First developed in Korea in the 4 century AD they were used in Japan from the 6th to the 14th century. They were fired with pine wood for 8 to 16 days to produce very high temperatures and the resulting pots were transformed by the flame, ash, and smoke from the long firing. Many fine examples from this time still exist in Japanese museums and collections.

The Martins were impressed by pots from a modern anagama at Sanyo Fujii’s pottery in Japan in the late 1970s and resolved to build a similar kiln in New Zealand. Their original 500 cubic foot anagama was fired once a year for nine to ten days at a time. Each firing used about 25 tonnes of split pine with two teams working in 12 hour shifts and stoking the kiln every 5-7 minutes.

Each time the anagama is stoked the wood disturbs the ash in the fire mouth. This ash is carried through the kiln by the natural draft and is deposited onto the pots. In this way pots put into the kiln ‘raw’ or unglazed develop their colour and glaze-like coatings.

The Martins built a second anagama in the early 1990s to reduce the work involved in firing, while still producing pots with the same qualities.

Bruce and Estelle Martin have exhibited widely in New Zealand and have won awards in the Fletcher Challenge Pottery Award, the Suter Art Awards and the Norsewear Art Award. A selection of their work was shown in a joint exhibition with Sanyo Fujii at the Mitsukoshi Gallery of Fine Art in Osaka, Japan. The Martins have continued to explore traditional forms and to develop their interest in ikebana containers. The natural colours of anagama pottery blend with and enhance the colours of nature in a way that cannot be achieved with any other type of firing.

Kamaka anagama potter is available form Bruce and Estelle’s workshop gallery southwest of Hastings.

Photo captions –

Firing the large Kamaka anagama

Estelle stoking the small Kamaka anagama.

Visit our website at http:// home.clear.net.nz /pages/anagama