MARC LANCET
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Reviews of Japanese
Wood-fired Ceramics
Wood-fired Ceramics
From Clay Times November 1, 2006
By Steven Branfman
Japanese Wood-fired Ceramics is quite a book. Three hundred and
twenty thick, glossy pages with outstanding color photos and
drawings on virtually every one. The sesign of the book = its format,
the typefaceused, the placement of photos, the arrangement of text
and other features = is one of the most friendly and inviting I have
ever seen. It demands - no, asks nicely - to be opened, examined, and
read thoroughly. The authors, who have been friends and
collaborators for almost 15 years, have obviously taken great pains
to bring you their years of pottery and wood firing experience.
The writing style is conversational, fluid, easy to read and to
understand, inclusive and encouraging. In fact, I found it so
comfortable and captivating that even though I have no interest in
building a wood kiln or wood firing, reading the book was educating,
interesting and down right enjoyable. Marc and Masakazu (I feel as if
we are friends) are excellent teachers who have clear skill in, and
passion for, teaching. Tips, advice, and coaching appear throughout.
Rarely, if ever, is the reader left wondering or asking, "What do they
mean by that?" The section on loading, for instance, starts with the
very basics of shelf layout and goes right to the materials necessary
for loading. Loading strategy, post placement, arranging your ware,
and all the necessary considerations are covered. Fifty-two diagrams
illustrate various loading strategies and potential flame patterns.
Now that is detail!
Japanese Wood-fired Ceramics is a welcome addition to the available
books on the subject. It gracefully and tastefully adds its own
approach and style to the mix, and helps bring the experience of
wood-firing to the pottery community.
Marc and Masakazu, your labor of love is complete and you did a
fine job.
By Steven Branfman
Japanese Wood-fired Ceramics is quite a book. Three hundred and
twenty thick, glossy pages with outstanding color photos and
drawings on virtually every one. The sesign of the book = its format,
the typefaceused, the placement of photos, the arrangement of text
and other features = is one of the most friendly and inviting I have
ever seen. It demands - no, asks nicely - to be opened, examined, and
read thoroughly. The authors, who have been friends and
collaborators for almost 15 years, have obviously taken great pains
to bring you their years of pottery and wood firing experience.
The writing style is conversational, fluid, easy to read and to
understand, inclusive and encouraging. In fact, I found it so
comfortable and captivating that even though I have no interest in
building a wood kiln or wood firing, reading the book was educating,
interesting and down right enjoyable. Marc and Masakazu (I feel as if
we are friends) are excellent teachers who have clear skill in, and
passion for, teaching. Tips, advice, and coaching appear throughout.
Rarely, if ever, is the reader left wondering or asking, "What do they
mean by that?" The section on loading, for instance, starts with the
very basics of shelf layout and goes right to the materials necessary
for loading. Loading strategy, post placement, arranging your ware,
and all the necessary considerations are covered. Fifty-two diagrams
illustrate various loading strategies and potential flame patterns.
Now that is detail!
Japanese Wood-fired Ceramics is a welcome addition to the available
books on the subject. It gracefully and tastefully adds its own
approach and style to the mix, and helps bring the experience of
wood-firing to the pottery community.
Marc and Masakazu, your labor of love is complete and you did a
fine job.
From Ceramics Art and Perspective, Vol 64, 2006
By Jack Troy
Japanese Wood-fired Ceramics is a major contribution to the field.
With its many computerized illustrations of kiln designs, dozens of
photographic close-ups of what can only be termed,
'pyro-dermatology', and firing procedures, Kusakabe and Lancet
extend our 'range of knowing' far beyond other books on the
subject. It is hard to imagine many readers who couldn't learn
something new from it.
A quick browse reveals an extraordinary attention to visual details:
exquisitely-detailed computer-generated schematics of kilns depict
variations in firebox designs, stoking patterns and the correlation of
surface effects relative to location of objects in firing zones. In this
regard, the book sets a precedent for its visual acuity. No other
books on the subject have broken ground the way this one does in
explaining the visual/tactile experience uniquely documented by
wood-fired work while relating specific effects to processes
accounting for them.
Japanese Wood-fired Ceramics was written by people whose
passionate commitment to practice rises from a desire to share
their learning, Their efforts deserve our readership.
By Jack Troy
Japanese Wood-fired Ceramics is a major contribution to the field.
With its many computerized illustrations of kiln designs, dozens of
photographic close-ups of what can only be termed,
'pyro-dermatology', and firing procedures, Kusakabe and Lancet
extend our 'range of knowing' far beyond other books on the
subject. It is hard to imagine many readers who couldn't learn
something new from it.
A quick browse reveals an extraordinary attention to visual details:
exquisitely-detailed computer-generated schematics of kilns depict
variations in firebox designs, stoking patterns and the correlation of
surface effects relative to location of objects in firing zones. In this
regard, the book sets a precedent for its visual acuity. No other
books on the subject have broken ground the way this one does in
explaining the visual/tactile experience uniquely documented by
wood-fired work while relating specific effects to processes
accounting for them.
Japanese Wood-fired Ceramics was written by people whose
passionate commitment to practice rises from a desire to share
their learning, Their efforts deserve our readership.