Jeff Shapiro Workshop, GBP, Pondicherry, India

Jeff Shapiro is an eminent Ceramist, who lives and works in Accord, USA. We at Golden Bridge Pottery, had invited him for a workshop, 9 - 21 January 2012.

Unfortunately Pondicherry was hit by a devastating cyclone on 30 December 2011. The wind speeds were 140k/hr. Pottery lost some huge trees, many of the workers homes suffered damage. It totally shattered me as it did to the city, and i was worried as to how this event would take place.

Jeff was informed of the status, and he was positive about coming, inspite of the odds.

Ray and I geared up to our best and i know that it would have been a bigger disaster if we succumbed to Thane cyclone. We would have only regretted.

There was not any less organization to do if there was no cyclone. With Thane cyclone hit just 10 days before the workshop several works got added onto the list. There was all the clearing up and the repairs to be done, along with the usual prep. All of GBP, Ovoid, Ray, Debi and I worked towards it and prepared for Jeffs arrival.

Help arrived from unknown quarters and some participants came in advance, Veena and Zach were here nearly a week before. They were strong and an excellent help. Ray and Debi were setting up the gallery at their home. This meant scrambling through their collection. They had a well kept list of things that they have and what all they wished to display. It was all planned, still it was a lot of work. Rakhee, Ashwini and Adil arranged to do a lot of organizational help, towards various aspects of the workshop.

I was arranging and making preparations at the pottery for clay work, glazing and firing which were to happen in the workshop.

The day Jeff arrived, i thought he would rest for a day, but to my surprize he accompanied Ray to the pottery, and it was great to meet him... . It just did not seem that I was meeting him for the first time.

We had the welcome evening and gallery opening.

Jeff was not expecting what he saw here in Pondicherry. The gallery looked magnificent. Ray and Debi have an excellent collection of ceramics.

I do not have any pictures, my hands were full and I decided not to carry my camera.

His presentation at my Ovoid office informed us about his life and work .

There were 23 participants and we all flanged around Jeff in the days to follow. when he did clay work, and narrated several stories.

Due to the cyclone the pottery was flooded. Hence the big Anagama kiln floor was very damp. There were discussions about loading and firing according to plan. It seemed unreasonable to do so with the ground water level only six inches below kiln floor level.

Ray had started building a smaller Anagama earlier in the year. This was finished upto floor level and the wooden frame made for further building.

This kiln was used for a mock load and mock fire. This must have been the first of its kind.

Loading of the old Anagama kiln proceeded. step by step Jeff explained about each step, what he is thinking when he loads the kiln. Also explained how the fire works in these situations. He is a superb teacher.

A show was planned by Adil Writer. Jeff Shapiro and Friends. Helped in displaying by some of the participants.

"JEFF SHAPIRO & FRIENDS

is an exhibition that is a part of the

JEFF SHAPIRO ANAGAMA WORKSHOP

at

golden bridge pottery, pondicherry.

Local and international potters are participating in this workshop which is being conducted by internationally acclaimed ceramic artist Jeff Shapiro from upstate New York.

The JEFF SHAPIRO & FRIENDS show at Kala Kendra aims at bringing together a myriad range of ceramic aesthetics showcasing current works and styles of participants.

“The Japanese sensibility of nature is inherently close to the aesthetic of wood firing. The aesthetic that I speak of is one that comes from the ‘imperfections of nature’. It cannot be forced or imitated but rather ‘assisted’ in the way we choose material, forming process and decoration.” .....Jeff Shapiro."

The south india tour was organized by Ashwini Bhat. It is a three day of travel to the several temple towns, the Ayyanar shrine and a village potter.

Jeff left on 21st.

The kiln was fired a week later.

My report of the firing to all the outstation participants will follow.

On the day of unloading, I pulled out my camera and here are some of what I saw. :)