Syracuse Anagama
In September of 2003 I returned to upstate New York after having
built the Corning Community College anagama, to rebuild Syracuse's
kiln. Their anagama's arch had fatigued and collapsed rendering
it useless. This happened soon after the university had built them
a $30,000 steel shed to house the kiln. I came in and in a week
the hard working students, Professor Errol Willet and I extended
the fire box, re-built the arch form and did extensive earth buttressing
around the kiln.
I re-designed this kiln to using catenary principles, offering
a higher and stronger arch than the previous barrel arch design.
I also opted not to use steel buttressing in the front of the kiln
as had been previously done. I have more faith in the strength and
insulating qualities of earth. As the skin coat began to cure we
mixed stains and painted flames onto the sides of the kiln.
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