Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: FLEXIBLE (07/09/20)
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TITLE: Hand Crafted | Previous Challenge Entry
By Debra Brand
07/15/20 -
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In the center of the room stood the wheel surrounded by bags containing clay of all colors. The tools of his trade lay ready, waiting for the command of the master craftsman. His eyes rested on the far corner where lay a useless mass of shattered bits of burnt pottery. ‘They will need to be cast into the outer court.’
Sitting on a stool at the wheel, he arranged himself. His feet rested on either side of the wheelbase. One foot aligned with the pedal to spin the mechanism, not too fast, not too slow.
Taking a large handful of clay, he skillfully threw it onto the center of the flat wheel … again and again … to remove the air bubbles which would cause the vessel to ‘pop’ during firing. Next, he molded and folded the lump over and over until the clay was resilient and responded to his touch.
The clay needed to be centered on the wheel so it wouldn’t be out of round. He rested his left elbow on his thigh and tight to his body to steady his hand in one position next to the lump. His right arm rested on his other thigh while his right hand became the guide on the other side of the clay. He started to pump the wheel to spin slow and steady, shaping the clay up and down. With perfect accuracy, he centered the clay. It was ready.
The wheel moved a little faster now. His expert hands flattened, cuddled, and shaped the clay to the desired height. He continued to keep the clay moistened as it responded to pressure. His stained hands and clay became as one while the wheel spun.
The time came to make the lump into a vessel. Increasing the speed, his finger rested on the top with slight pressure pushing downward to hollow out the center. At the same time, his other hand pressed the walls tall and thinner. The lump became the vessel he desired.
Peering close at the jar, he noticed a flaw ... spoiled, marred. Not content with anything less than perfection, he smashed the vessel into a lump again and repeated the process. Satisfied with the piece, he let it stand for a few days before firing in the kiln.
Did it endure? How did it respond to the fire? Will it be found wanting or desirable?
He removed the piece from the kiln and studied every minute aspect. Perfect!
The potter carried the vessel to the shelves, placed it where he had planned among the other prized vessels crafted for his purpose.
Standing back, he found his work to be good … very good, indeed.
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