Jack Troy's Pixiegama

Joy Bridy Current Gallery & Pots For Sale

Spring 2006, the finishing touches were put on a new little treasure in rural PA, Jack Troy's Pixiegama. A small, unique wood kiln designed and built by Jack, Donovan Palmquist, and many other hands, the pixie is nuzzled in the wooded foothills, a stones throw from Jack's clay studio and home. In June, 2006, we convened with 20+ other folks for the inaugural firing, including a tandem firing of the Juniata Anagama. This kiln has many exciting firings in its future, and is the most aesthetically pleasing kiln environments I've seen thus far, from the heavy stone buttresses, steps and sitting area, to the sculptures near the door and springs and bones for the door pull. And, of course, the company. Jack's stories and the reflections of fellow stokers, mixed with a round or two of swats from Little Kitty, are the key ingredients for excellent memories.

Early March, 2008, I revisited the Pixiegama, this time with my attention on only this kiln, and what a pleasure. Returning to rural Pennsylvania on Leap Day amidst a characteristic snowfall, I carted my boxes of wares and buckets of glazes the 3.5 hours from my flat in 65 degree Washington DC.....singing and dreaming the whole way. We used a few shino and tenmoku glazes, as well as a few more for color in the back of the kiln, which Jack had said produced excellent glaze wares during the last firing with Donovan and Colleen Palmquist. With Jack's ample supply of wood, sorted by type and age, the firing was quite comfortable, and I had the pleasure of reaching top temperature and starting the 30 hour soak, all amidst a brooding rainy weather front. While the back part of the main chamber may not have reached optimum heat, the small "secret chamber" behind the main produced some lovely glazewares, and has piqued my curiosity for the next time.....seems like a wonderful mix of ash and flame accents in the front of the kiln, and space for glaze and color further back may be the pattern. So cheers to all the stokers from Juniata College (and grads) who took the late shifts, and I look forward to swapping tales again soon!