Furnace Material Excavations Trip: North Kohala, Big Island

In mid October I took a trip to the North Kohala Coast to gather materials from the backyards of ceramicist and painter, Peter Kowalke and glass artist and equipment specialist, Hugh Jenkins along the beautiful Hamakua coast. Both working artists have at home studio space to create their work. Both kindly supported my "buy local" initiative by selling me leftover refractories, insulated fire brick, and insulating mineral wool from perhaps an old local fuel incinerator. Hugh purchased the mineral wool from DAGS State Surplus by the Airport here in Honolulu awhile back now. Some of the bricks I purchases from Peter are from an old kiln in Puna district of Big Island built by a ceramicist turned ukelele maker. Gathering the information on the histories of how and where these materials existed and survived is a great part of the drive which leads me towards these regenerative/ recycling processes.