"BAURIS"
Basic information
Project Title
"BAURIS"
Full project title
"Bauris" - the place where clay turns into ceramics
Category
Regaining a sense of belonging
Project Description
"BAURIS" is a dream of a wood-fired kiln for ceramic firing, which is not only built with one's own hands, using the knowledge gained over the years of firing such kilns and gathering information, but also creating a kind of symbolic ceramic temple where local potters would meet and give them the opportunity to fire the works in a buorry box type wood-fired kiln. The goal of building this ceramic kiln would be to create an opportunity for every ceramic enthusiast and interested person.
Geographical Scope
National
Project Region
Latvia
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
The BAURIS project is based on the idea of building a ceramic firing wood kiln that is accessible to everyone. The goal is to create a place where like-minded people meet together to learn and improve in high-grade ceramic kiln firing. In the initial stages of the project, everyone interested will be given the opportunity to participate in the construction of the furnace for free on a voluntary basis, thus gaining valuable knowledge and experience. It would not be just a ceramic kiln, but a place where you can feel belonging to the ceramics community. As a result of the implementation of the project, the wood kiln will provide a unique opportunity to learn how to fire a bourry box type high-degree ceramic kiln, which has not been possible for the general public in Latvia until now. The project will promote the development of the Latvian ceramics industry, interest more people in this type of ceramic firing and ceramics, as well as create a more cohesive ceramic community by promoting creativity and development.
Key objectives for sustainability
The goal of the project is to create a place where anyone interested artist or enthusiast of the large ceramics community in Latvia could acquire skills in high-grade ceramics firing using a wood-fired ceramic kiln. Since ceramics is the oldest form of artistic expression on the territory of Latvia, known since Neolithic times, it is important to develop these skills while also learning a hitherto unknown way of firing ceramics in Latvia. The idea of the project also includes attracting artists from other countries in the future, which will give the local people the opportunity to get new contacts and experience exchange opportunities, as well as recognition on a local and international ceramic scale. A ceramic firing wood kiln is a place where potters meet to turn clay into ceramics by joint efforts, so by attracting interested people, it would give everyone a chance to look into the world of ceramic artists, thus breaking down the barrier between the artist and the common people, which is important for everyone to understand and see in the process that usually remains invisible to a person who sees only the end result. Publicly announced events will be used to achieve such goals, which will allow everyone to try to go through this process in master classes, making dishes, which will then be fired in the ceramic firing wood kiln built as part of the project. Such an event is unique, because until now the firing of the ceramic wood-fired kiln takes place in closed events and people are only attracted to the opening of the oven, when the final result is already visible, but the hard work and sleepless nights remain behind the scenes. The main justification for the need for the project is that there are only two bourry box ceramic wood kilns in Latvia, one of which belongs to the Latvian Academy of Arts and is only available to students, and the other is located in Daugavpils and is only available to a limited number of participants of the symposium once a year.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The project is intended for the development of ceramics in Latvia, which is also one of the oldest art forms in Latvia and has been found here since Neolithic times. Each region of Latvia has its own ceramic tradition, but nowadays it is interesting to try something not characteristic of Latvian ceramics, because as many clay stocks are found in the country, the ceramic tradition is only related to low grade clay. High-grade masses open up much greater opportunities for ceramic artists, as well as the implementation of the project, which means building a buorry box high-grade ceramic wood-fired kiln would contribute to the development and growth of Latvian ceramics. The implementation of the project would provide an opportunity to implement the skills of firing such a kiln, creating higher quality works of art. Such experience is integral and impressive for a ceramicist. This type of kiln would allow to experiment and develop artistic skills. Undoubtedly, the kiln would provide an opportunity not only for artists, but for anyone interested to improve or simply observe the processes taking place around the kiln during its firing. Each time such a furnace is lit is equivalent to a performance with a logical and completely unpredictable outcome. It is expected that the kiln could gain a lot of recognition and interest, as the project would enable the realization of a high-grade wood kiln accessible to all artists, within reach and close to the nation's capital. This would be done by planning firings more often than twice a year and making it public so that the information is available to everyone, not just circle of friends. This would promote the cohesion of the ceramics community and people's interest in ceramics. Such a project would be a model for everyone in Latvia, as it would be available to every ceramicist and those interested and would unite beginners with already experienced artists, so that the exchange of experience and knowledge would be more valuable.
Key objectives for inclusion
The main goal of the project in terms of accessibility is to allow not only experienced and professional artists, but also beginners and students, which provides a valuable opportunity to learn and gain experience from those who also participate in firing their works as from the firing process itself. In principle, everyone will be able to participate in this process of making ceramics, because it will depend only on the price of firewood at that particular moment. The positive aspect would be that the location of the kiln is close to the capital and therefore more accessible to a wider range of people. The implementation of this project could also promote local ceramicists and interest groups, which would also promote the development of local art in the city and also promote the recognition of local ceramicists. This would contribute to the formation and strengthening of the local ceramic tradition in society.
How Citizens benefit
The main beneficiary of the project will be local artists and residents who are interested in ceramics and want to see and learn more. The project will mainly involve professional ceramic artists, who will build a ceramic firing kiln with their joint efforts and knowledge. After the implementation of the project, everyone interested in the ceramic process will be the beneficiaries, as anyone who wants to make a work and fire it in a wood-fired ceramics kiln will be allowed to make a work and participate in firing the kiln. Local artists, who already have this type of ceramic firing kilns, have had a great influence on the progress of the project, and with their advice and knowledge have given an opportunity to understand the specifics of the construction. Such a project will provide an opportunity to unite and unite like-minded people, providing a unique opportunity to improve in chosen profession. Many ceramic artists have shown interest in the project, which proves the importance of the need for the project in Latvia. All interested people are voluntarily ready to get involved in the implementation of the project by helping with their work in building the bourry box kiln.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
The project was created after studying at the Latvian Academy of Arts, where I was given an insight into ceramics and also into firing the bourry box ceramic wood kiln. THIS was also the only experience with such a kiln, because after the end of my studies I can no longer use it, so the idea arose that such a kiln is needed, which is available not only to students or symposium participants, but to all ceramicists who want to fire their works in this special way. It is a much more special way to fire ceramics and give the final product a special value. It is a historical value that should be preserved, which is why this project is also special, as it allows preserving and teaching ancient ceramic firing methods, which are of great value in improving culture. With this project, I want to develop and give a valuable addition to Latvian ceramics. The innovative nature of the project lies in the fact that it will be one of the few that will create affordable ceramics for anyone interested, regardless of status or ability. In addition, the construction of the ceramic furnace envisaged in the project will be done by one's own hands using the information obtained on the Internet and from two ceramic furnaces of this type already existing in Latvia.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
In order to develop a project, knowledge in ceramics and construction is required. Must understand the tricks of ceramic kiln building in order to build a quality kiln. Since mostly potters build their own kilns, it was useful to identify those who have done it and also consult with professionals who do it every day. This cooperation has been valuable, as it allows you to acquire integral knowledge and familiarize yourself with ready-made examples, by viewing which you can understand the principles of construction.
Methodology used
The project is implemented thinking about the interests of the entire ceramics community and people, creating a project whose goal is to educate and develop society as well as industry representatives without thinking about only personal gain. The approach is that the project will also be implemented with the participation of directly interested persons, i.e. ceramic artists and enthusiasts, which means that from the initial conceptual idea to the finished kiln, people will be involved who want to work together to achieve the goal by going the hard way by doing everything themselves, but getting a lot of more immeasurable knowledge and experience.
How stakeholders are engaged
At the local level, only local ceramists are involved in the development of the project, who want to participate in the development of the project, in the construction of the kiln. There is no stakeholder at the regional and national European level.
Global challenges
In connection with the events in the world, according to the World Health Organization, various types of psychological diseases have increased in people. Also in Latvia, many suffer from depression and similar diseases, but art and ceramics are often what these people come to, looking for ways to improve and heal themselves. Often people come to pottery classes just to calm down and take clay in their hands, with which a person can reach a meditative state, forgetting about their problems. It is also important for artists to create conditions that calm and give a creative feeling. The implementation of the project would be a significant contribution to the world of art, as it would provide an opportunity to improve the well-being of several people with just one kiln. This project would be able to solve this world problem by giving even a small group of people the opportunity to doubt the material that undoubtedly has an impact on health.
Learning transferred to other parties
A valuable lesson from the project is that throughout the ceramics community, like-minded people come together to achieve a common goal. Not all communities are able and able to do this, but it is valuable, because togetherness is a force with the help of which it is possible to achieve more.
Keywords
Art
Artist comunity
Tradition
New skills
Experience
