Some six months ago I visited a farm not far from my home. In the farmyard a small shed full of ceramic materials, a small kiln, pots, bottles, books, bags, jars, canisters... dust.
I don't feel free to disclose his name, but the young man who worked and dreamed in that potter's shed had died after a long illness and left his family, bereft and bewildered in possession of a huge inventory they knew not how to disperse. It was my great good luck that I came along that day. Good luck, because I witnessed their generosity and their love and I was much inspired by their serene outpouring of emotion. Good luck also because I came away with lots of delicious stuff for a peppercorn, derisible cost. I felt I had to really make the most of all that stuff. I feel I have to use and in doing so I feel I maintain a dialogue with this young man and his ideas... and we have arguments because we often disagree. The work I do with his legacy is quite different from my usual output. He worked in earthenware and had lots of different ready mixed glazes which I am trying to use up: I will soon post up some of the results in here to celebrate my young benefactor, his inspiration and teaching and his lovely family. With gratitude.
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