CONFLUENCE

Illustrated is a rather serendipitous confluence of two individual ash runs that meet to form a single gravity defying drip. In actuality, though this large Shigaraki tsubo is firmly seated on its foot, it was fired on its side and this view is the bottom as the pot was situated in the kiln. During the firing, the ash built up on the opposite side and melted, running down and around the pot to meet at the very lowest point of the belly of the piece. Though it is serendipity, I suppose that gravity had  an enormous amount to do with it as well as a well fired kiln. Beyond the physical laws of the universe, I suspect that having a lifetime of experience for knowing exactly how to position the tsubo encouraged the myriad of possibilities that can happen when clay, natural ash and flame are introduced to each other.