Kat Morrell Ceramics
Pit Fired Pots
Since man’s earliest days, from Africa to the steppes of Asia, pottery has been finished in an open, flaming pit. I feel that the transformative power of fire is captured in my work and evokes a primitive, primal sense of the forces of nature. Each piece is unique with subtle clouds of moving color caused by the flames and smoke contrasting bold black burnt areas. Raw clay is formed into individual pieces on the potter’s wheel and then burnished to create a smooth surface. The pieces are bisque fired, then placed in the pit to be burnt. As the fire burns, flames of turquoise, purple and blue lick the vessels and leave their memories on the surfaces. After an evening of cooling, the morning brings the surprise of brushing away the ashes to reveal nature’s artwork. Wax is applied to the warm vessels and buffed to a soft sheen. The wax deepens the colors, intensifies the patterns and enhances the depth.
I can massage the conditions but the final alchemy is up to the fire. I love the way finished pieces look like they have been carved from stone. The lidded vessels are treasure boxes and are inspired by chess pieces, pagodas and architectural moldings. They are a sheltering home for memories of the past. Like the genie in the bottle, they can house the essence of dreams, the spirit of possibilities or nothing at all. Because these vessels are crafted in the fire and emerge from the ashes, they are also used as funeral urns to provide safe harbor for loved one’s ashes. The double gourd shape, or calabash is sensual and alive. While traveling in China and Japan, I became fascinated by the calabash form. There are endless variations of the curves of this form. Sometimes the form is that of a woman’s body, sometimes the S curve reminds me of the S shaped curve at the interface of Yin and Yang. In Asian cultures, the calabash shape represents the union of heaven and earth or man descending upon woman, and is used in Feng Shui to enhance positive chi in a house. It has deep mystical symbolism as a cure for illness and fertility problems.
To learn more about the Pit Firing Process, Click Here.
