Beatrice Keleriene
anagama ceramics
Since 2003, I have been studying and practicing in outstanding Japanese pottery workshops of Tanba, Shigaraki, Echizen, Tokoname, Seto, Thajimi, Kutani, Hagi, Mino, Bizen. In 2010, I founded a pottery studio in Misato, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. At the same time, I delved into the practical ceramics traditions in Lithuania.
In 2010, I was awarded the status of Art Creator, and in 2013, the National Heritage Product Certificate.
In 2014, I established the Ceramic Art Center in Lithuania - in Dukstai near Vilnius and installed wood-firing kiln “Karmazinu Anagama”. The Anagama kiln is an ancient type of pottery kiln brought to Japan from China via Korea in the 5th century. An Anagama works because the fire at one end produces a tremendous amount of ash and is drawn through the filled chamber toward the chimney. In some 5 days and nights burning dozens cubic meters of pinewood, the kiln heats up to 1300°C - 1400°C, The ash of the burned wood melts and creates a natural glaze covering the ceramic surfaces. Currently, new "Buivydu Anagama" kiln is under construction and supposed to be finished in 2023.
My studio and Sodo Gallery are open for visitors in Vilnius. You are welcome to visit and purchase my works or take part in pottery lessons.
Please reserve a visit by calling +37061959106
Sodo Gallery
Beatrice's ceramic collection for interior, garden and table
anagama collection
these are works of special aesthetics, high fired in Karmazinu Anagama. During Anagama woodfiring in 115 hours, the articles acquire extraordinary beauty and durability. In Anagama's volcanic heat of 1300°C, special clay products simply petrifies. In such heat, the ashes of wood melts, and the flames paints with melted ashes on the surfaces of my works. While still gluing these works, you have to project out where the ashes will be laid, from which side the articles will be surrounded by flames, where the ashes will accumulate, where the melting ashes will drip. In my Anagama, the pottery burns for five days or more, extracting special surface textures and shades that spill from earthy tones to fiery glows. The firing of an Anagama is a special skill in decorating ceramics with a touch of flame
wood fired ash glaze collection
these articles are decorated with a mixture of molten wood ash, ground stone dust and various types of clay. In a wood-firing kiln under the temperature up to 1300°C, these substances melt to form a so-called ash glaze. Specific shades and glosses are obtained by creating an atmosphere of reduction or oxidation in the kiln. Like the Anagama utensils, these are extremely resistant, although burning for a much shorter time, only 12 hours. Glazes derived from an alloy of natural materials give articles a specific beauty. The decor of this collection is exceptional not only for its material naturalness, but also for the seemingly harmonious colors.
raku collection
traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies, rakuware is a famous type of Japanese pottery. This art form was highly appreciated by tea masters for the purity and unpretentiousness of the objects, especially chawan tea bowls. With a history stretching back to 1580, rakuware remains today the most sought after of Japanese ceramics, and an unparalleled example of wabi-sabi aesthetics. Right after firing, the hot bowl was thrown into the wood sawdust. During the contact with hot bowl, the burning sawdust causes the reduction reaction. Also, because of the sharp change of the temperatures the hundreds of micro-cracks appears on the surface of the glaze. These cracks fulfills with micro-particles of the soot of burning sawdust. After all you can see the exciting ornaments that reminds the slightly cracked material. This always makes an illusory impression of fragility and delicacy.
anagama sculpture
my ceramic sculptures were fired for five days (115 hours) in the Karmazinu Anagama kiln. This highly sought atmospheric firing process results in a naturally applied ash "glaze" - the meletd ash. These fine specimens are chock full of flashing, ash deposits, and delightful bantering of surface oxidation and reduction. The technological specifics of the anagama allow to extract an extremely wide range of colors, shades and textures, which give the work a unique originality and incredible physical resistance, to be exhibited outdoors in any climatic conditions.
