First Firing

The first firing of the new kiln -- which is the most special in the life of any kiln -- began on October 13, 1995. In all, this firing lasted nearly five weeks -- three weeks to load (the kiln holds up to 12,000 pieces of pottery), nine days to fire, five days to cool and unload the kin.. This process was captured on film by KTCA Public Television in St. Paul A half- hour special, The Firing, aired locally in February 1996 and regionally later that summer. KTCA then produced an hour-long documentary on the history of this sustainable pottery program and its relationship to the environment and to Saint John's. Clay, Wood, Fire, Spirit: The Pottery of Richard Bresnahan aired locally and regionally in the spring and summer of 1997. Subsequently, the program was syndicated to public television stations across the country for broadcast and has appeared nationally and internationally, typically on Earth Day.

When the doors of the kiln were opened after the first firing, the results were breathtaking. According to Richard Bresnahan, "The first firing produced some of the most incredible pieces I have seen in my life." The firing also captured the attention of the Dr. Matthew Welch, associate curator of Asian Art, Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA) and Dr. Robert Jacobsen, curator of Asian Art and chair of curators at MIA. They were so impressed with the results that they canceled a previously scheduled exhibit and put in its place an exhibition of 77 pieces from the new kiln. This exhibit, which was on display at the MIA from April to September 1996, was significant for several reasons: first, Richard is one of the only living artists to exhibit in the Gale Gallery at MIA (it is primarily for antiquities); second, this is the first time an American has exhibited in the Gale Gallery; and finally, this was the longest one-man exhibition in the history of the museum.