Mary Kaun-English’s clay pieces have not been glazed. They are fired by the ancient method of smoke firing. The pieces are handmade using clay and initially fired in an electric kiln, at 950°C. This dries the work and makes it stronger; however leaving it porous.

The work is then placed in a large pit in the ground on top of a bed of sawdust. Organic material such as pine cones, seaweed, orange peel, banana skins etc… are placed around and on top of the work. A bonfire is built on top of this. At this time the pit is covered with corrugated sheet metal and left to burn for up to 24 hours. Once the pots are cool enough to handle they are removed form the pit, cleaned and polished. The marks on the pieces are made from the smoke penetrating the porous clay. Due to the intensity of the smoke firing process, these marks can take form as unevenness and fissures in the sculptures surface; thus adding an additional textural dimension to the work.

St Ives Arts Festival – Set 2011
Communal Pit-Firing on Porthmeor Beach, St Ives, Cornwall

Project Co-ordinator Mary English

Talk given by Mary Kaun English Saturday 24 September 2011 at 3pm
at Porthminster Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall

Digging the Pit	The Fire Burns at Sunset
The Sun was Shinning	The Pit Burns into the Night
Jo Adding the Seaweed	The Next Day
Lighting the Fire at 6pm	Opening the Pit at 12 Noon the Next Day
Covering with Steel Sheets	Taking Count