*Prepared by Agnese Sunepa*
*Based on materials posted on the Facebook page of Denis James Gervin (USA)*
This year, at the third KUR ceramic art symposium, held in "Priedulāji," Kalvene Parish, and with the support of the VKKF (State Culture Capital Foundation), a high-temperature wood-fired kiln was constructed. This kiln is unique in the Baltics. The kiln project was led in person this summer by Associate Professor and ceramic artist Denis James Gervin (USA) and was built by experienced assistants and ceramic artists – Joonas Perve (Estonia), Kris Ojasuu (Estonia), Jānis Leimanis (Latvia), and the symposium curator, Rūdis Pētersons (Latvia). The construction lasted for one month.
In October, the kiln was fired for the first time. Those involved in firing included Rūdis Pētersons, Joonas Perve, Kris Ojasuu, Ieva Jurka, Jānis Leimanis, Helvijs Matulis, Kristīne Niedrāja, and Ance Ausmane. Despite a gentle firing process lasting almost 60 hours, the results were pleasing, and we eagerly await the next firing!
The kiln was filled with works from professional artists as well as students from the Latvian Academy of Art, LMMDV, and Saldus Art School. The response from ceramic artists was tremendous; unfortunately, not all pieces could be fired.
The fired works were displayed in a pop-up outdoor exhibition, and some of these pieces will be available to view in the Saldus Art School exhibition space in January 2025. If not sooner, the next kiln firing will take place at the start of summer next year – the Latvian Ceramic Association is preparing for a large exhibition in Sigulda in the late summer of 2025.
The existence of this kiln is undoubtedly a significant event not only for Latvian ceramics but also internationally. Its extensive capabilities will allow for the creation of large-format ceramic works in future symposiums and attract professionals from around the world.
Denis James Gervin (USA), the kiln designer, shared his experiences of spending a month in Latvia and the kiln construction:
"I met Rūdis in Estonia in July 2022, during the Kohila Symposium. While loading and firing the kiln, we discussed Rūdis's vision to host symposiums in Kalvene, Latvia. One of the workshop assistants, Joonas R. Parve, suggested that we could help Rūdis build a kiln for this purpose. I hoped to be free in two years, so we made a friendly agreement: if Rūdis was ready to build in 2024, Joonas and I would come.
In December 2023, Rūdis requested design drawings, images, and a materials list. They secured VKKF funding in March 2024. The Latvian Ceramic Association generously covered my flight costs, and we enjoyed the warm hospitality of Rūdis's family and the local community. Everything progressed rapidly, filling me with a surreal sense of optimism as the dream quickly took shape.
...It’s a simple design, one I've built twice before: a straight, stepped, cross-draft chamber with a firebox at the front and a chimney at the back. The height at the door is 173 cm, fitting an average person wearing a hat and work boots. It steps up by 30 cm after the firebox to the first level of the ware chamber, then another 20 cm higher. The chimney has a baffle plate inside, and the bricks, made in Ukraine, were incredibly durable, having previously served in a red brick kiln for decades.
...The best part, as always in my profession, was the people! Rūdis is happiest when working hands-on, although this project required him to spend much time organizing tasks. Joonas works in theater; his experience in stage carpentry was invaluable. Agnese, being eight months pregnant, kept everything on schedule, handled all business affairs, and fed us well. Jānis Leimanis, Rūdis and Agnese’s colleague from their days at the Art Academy in Riga, became our “master bricklayer.” Kris Ojasuu, whom we met at the Kohila symposium, shared her expertise in wood firing and brought valuable insights. The local community, including Rūdis's brother Kārlis, who was about to complete his doctorate in anesthesiology, and several curious visitors, contributed to the process.
Each day began by implementing solutions from the previous day and ended with new challenges, which we discussed over dinner, slept on, and reconsidered over morning coffee. Every meal was made with love, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
We laughed heartily every day, appreciating the smart, dry humor that characterizes post-Soviet countries. Nothing was off-limits for a joke, and the conversations were rich. True, I was with several progressive artists, all formally educated in thinking differently.
...At the end of our three-week schedule, we had finished everything but the chimney and the kiln's outer casing. Leaving without seeing it completed was tough, but we had solved all foreseeable issues. A week after we left, some Latvian ceramic artists joined Rūdis to finish the chimney. Rūdis, with years of renovation experience and the nickname “Master of Lime,” completed the outer casing.
The first firing is scheduled for October. I truly wish I could be there to help solve any issues, but I will be in the USA, possibly firing the sister kiln at home. My friends foresee annual summer symposiums, and I will return there as soon as possible to see it fired."
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