Xepocol, a small village in the central highlands of Guatemala, has never made pottery and never seen a potter’s wheel. The village has an active Methodist church, a busy local school, and many small shops along the unpaved road that is the lifeline of the village. When Carlo Gonzales asked the local minister, Sebastian Quino, if he was interested in his village learning about pottery, he said yes.
Our group arrived around 10:30 am on Friday morning. I brought a kit for making a kick wheel, all the metal parts, wood for the frame and cement for the flywheel. The pastor was on an unexpected pastoral visit, but Miguel a local weaver, met us at the church. He offered us refreshments, and we then we talked for the next hour about the wheel, where it would go and what we needed. I used my best Spanish and then Raul, our guide and translator, translated my Spanish to “real” Spanish. It was interesting to discuss something seemingly so simple for so long, but this is totally new technology for the village. In true Guatemalan fashion, we started constructing the wheel after a break for lunch. We had sandwiches delivered,but the church supplied soup and the most delicious tamales I’ve ever had.
Thursday was the last day in the village and was the day to fire the newly made pots. The village had no kiln and no ready fuel source. Pit firing is the most primitive and easiest method, but the ground is very rocky, so we choose to barrel fire. The pots went in the fire as greenware, so we preheated them first over an open fire on a piece of corrugated roofing. After warming them for about 2 hours, we loaded them in the barrel with pine needles and corn leafs and stalks. Finally, the fire on top was built. There were numerous explosions, but yes there were survivors as well. We had to leave before the barrel cooled, but I did sneak a peek and verify that there were survivors, and they are jet black. I am happy as I can be with the results.
It has been a true adventure. The people were delightful, the children beautiful, the mountains breath-taking. I would not have missed this trip for anything. I plan on returning in July to help build a kiln in Xepocol.
(Written by potter Kevin H Komadina; pictures by Susan Waughtal)
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