Designing an EcoKiln

In August 2014 I began a new job at a beach resort in the Straits of Malacca as an artist in residence.  Part of my work is to develop an art program at the resort that we can market to school groups, and to use the arts as a platform for community development initiatives reaching out to the local nationals from nearby islands.

The EcoKiln Concept

The plan is to build two kilns - one for glaze research and very small production runs, and a second, larger one to use with school groups.  We are hoping to be able to offer school art classes a chance to learn about and participate in wood-firing techniques.

The small kiln is nearly complete, with just the finishing touches to go on the firebox and heat exchanger.  A heat exchanger is a device that recaptures heat that would otherwise be lost through the chimney, and redirects at least some of it back into the firebox.  In addition to gaining more efficiency, it also cools the smoke and reduces the fire hazard of sparks flying out the chimney.  This is important to us, as the resort is all built from wood.
 
As I've been researching these devices, I've come across three designs out there that have all contributed, in some way, to the design of the kiln I'm building right now. 

• Hugh Jenkin's Volcano Kiln
• Marvin Bartel's EcoKiln
• Iferica Ecokiln

Somali Pirates

In the fall of 2008 I had the opportunity to sit in on a community organization and development class at Houghton. I especially enjoyed the sections on artisan fisheries. So when I started reading about the increase in piracy in Somalia on the news, I decided to read a little more.

According to one report, the piracy began to be a problem about 10 years ago when, due to the lack of government regulation/enforcement in Somali waters, international fishing companies moved in and fished the locals right out of their livelihoods. Other corporations took advantage of the lack of enforcement to quietly get rid of toxic waste, which didn't get much attention in the news until waves from the 2005 tsunami, according to Al Jazeera, broke open several containers of toxic waste and washed the contents ashore.

So in response to these practices, small bands of fishermen began calling themselves the coast guard, hijacking fishing vessels and demanding recompense.

The straights of Malacca used to be the most pirated waters out there, but hijackings in 2008 off the coast of Somalia nearly tripled. It appears that the computer techies and militia warlords decided that the fishermen were on to something good, and they got a 30 million dollar a year 'business' going.

This sculpture reflects a little of my own perspective on the issue. There are more pictures of it on my Picasa web album.

cheers!