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SEMI-ANNUAL NEWSLETTER l FALL 2016

Potters for Peace seeks to broaden horizons while maintaining communal clay traditionsMost days, my Facebook feed is full of pictures of pottery from around the world, pots that are being made today and pots that were made a thousand years ago. It is easy for me to forget that for most of the world’s traditional potters, an encounter with any style outside that of their own region is a rare and inspiring thing.

In June, we had a great opportu-nity to participate in a wood firing workshop at Adamah Clay Ventures in Dodgeville, Wisconsin with our Nica co- director, Alvaro Jose Aburto Gadea, and our valued teacher, Car-los Humberto Silva Espinosa. This was their first experience with high-fired pottery, and their first experi-ence with glazes. This exposure to other artistic possibilities will inform and enhance their teaching as they share their knowledge with other communities.

A rapidly shrinking and globalizing world provides both opportunities for individual growth and challenges to local communal traditions. Potters for Peace makes it our business to broaden the horizons of the potters we support here in Nicaragua, walking the fine line between maintaining communal clay traditions while encouraging indi-viduals to grow creatively.

A big part of this expanding of awareness is our annual brigade, where North American potters spend two weeks working alongside our Nicara-guan friends. Suppose someone you respect takes the time to travel a great distance to visit your studio and watch you work. You will feel honored and affirmed in your efforts, right? As Ron used to say, Nicaraguan potters feel very flattered when our brigadistas spend a lot of time and money to get on an airplane and then travel on rough roads to visit them. Simply showing up at their door, regardless of any other part of the interchange, demonstrates a level of respect that by itself validates their lives as craft workers. If we then buy their work, we are giving them more encouragement, as well as the means to continue working. When our work is appreciated by the outside world, we receive confirmation and endorsement of its value. Traditional potters also receive confirmation of their identities as living caretakers of cultural treasures.

In preparation for Carlos’ and

Alvaro’s trip to Adamah Clay Ventures, we commissioned a group of young Nicaraguan journalists to do a brief video of the daily lives of Carlos and another young potter named Douglas. For an inside view of the meaning that the carrying on of tradition gives to the life of a potter, view the video, entitled Manos del Barro, at https://www.you-tube.com/watch?v=p8BjBzmidlg&-feature=youtu.be.

The reverence that these young people have for the traditions of their craft, and the connectedness that they feel from being a vital part of some-thing historically larger than them-selves, empowers them with a per-sonal strength and dignity that carries them through life’s difficulties.

As always, we are grateful for the support of our donors, who make our work possible.—Robert Pillers, Nicaraguan Co-Director

Magdelia, from Loma Panda, demonstates their method of forming their famous dolls during our February 2016 Brigade.

Workshop participants at Adamah.

“20 by ’20” Campaign is moving forwardOur campaign—called “20 by ’20”—which we launched earlier this year, will push towards expanding or founding twenty factories by 2020. The ultimate goal is to see 100 fac-tories worldwide by 2030. Below is an update of current and prospective projects.

Nigeria: We are participating in a UNICEF-funded project to evaluate the production at existing filter facto-ries in Nigeria. Filters will be tested at the factory and in the field, and pro-duction methods will be adjusted if/as needed. Filters will then be tested on a larger scale in the field, and a market systems analysis will be completed.

Also in Nigeria, the CPAN factory is doing bacteriological testing in accor-dance with the training they received through us. The Potters Water Action Group (PWAG) in Pittsburgh is working on fundraising so that this factory can move ahead with a mar-keting program. For more on PWAG, visit (potterswateractiongroup.org)

Tanzania: The filter factory in Ifakara

has new leadership, and is working to become independent of its founding entity in order to simplify their organi-zation due to a decrease in the number of employees. They are currently in the market for a new pyrometer and set of thermocouples. They recently added separators in their kiln, increasing the number of filters they can fire from 30 to 40 per firing.

Mexico: The Filtrochis factory in Chiapas has completed kiln repairs and they are proceeding with bacteriologi-cal testing. They received a grant from Fundacion Cantaro Azul to prepare and submit a sample filter for testing in the hopes that their filters will receive certification as a water purification device eligible for NGO distribution.

Nepal: We are working with the fac-tory in Kathmandu and Mike Stubna, a Potters for Peace representative, will travel to Nepal once we have received verification that the the kiln has been built, machines are installed, and mate-rials are on hand.

Dominican Republic: The head of a

factory in DR spent a week learning about pot filters at the Honduras fac-tory and he has decided to change his factory setup from candle filters to pot filters. Potters for Peace has offered support in this transition.

Mexico: Ecofiltro is expanding their distribution into Mexico, and plans to establish a second factory in a year or two. They have contacted us and want us to be involved in the process.

India: The group interested in start-ing a filter factory in India continues to seek a funding source.

General Inquiries: We have received general inquiries from groups in the Philippines, Ghana/Togo, Laos and Panama.

A group of chiropractors and other professionals from Spain are inter-ested in starting a new factory, and they are in the process of deciding whether they want to start with dis-tribution of filters made at an exist-ing factory or with a new production site.

PfP and CAWST launch course on filter productionPfP has joined forces with the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST) to co-develop and pilot a course on Best Practices in Ceramic Water Filter Production.

The course will be given in English and will be targeted at anyone inter-ested in starting a new factory or in improving production practices at an existing factory.

The current plan is for the coure to be a 10-14 day hands-on session in Nicaragua, and there may also be an online component.

Join our 2017 Brigade: January 14–28, 2017The dates have been set for our next 2-week brigade. Join us from January 14-28, 2017 as we travel through the Nica-raguan countryside visiting, learning from, and working with rural Nicaraguan potters.

Potters and non-potters alike are welcome to join this hands-on experience.

For more information visit our website: pottersforpeace.org or contact abby@pottersforpeace.org

The 2010 brigade get their hands dirty as they build a traditional kiln.

Global Giving Crowdfunding Campaign spurs on progress for Paraguay FactoryThe Filter Factory in Paraguay is working to scale up their production in an effort to supply the growing demand for filters in their community. With assistance from Robert Pillers of Potters for Peace, they had a new kiln built at their new factory site. The new kiln has led to significantly improved firings, resulting in stronger and more durable filters. Thanks to funds raised through a Potters for Peace-supported Crowdfunding Project, the Paraguay Filter Project has also purchased parts for and assembled a motorized table sieve. Since the sieve has been built and put into use, production of filters has increased significantly. The sieve is used to process sawdust and clay for use in the filter mix, and can be seen in

action in this video: https://youtu.be/igswrAXa5nU.

However, despite these improve-ments, orders for filters are still piling up, and the group in Paraguay has not been able to move to their new factory location as the site is still in need of walls, a concrete floor, a water storage tank, drying shelves, and a new roof.

You can helpThe Global Giving Crowdfunding campaign is still active and could really use your support. Donations are being accepted here: https://goto.gg/24052. Please consider donating a small amount each month using the recur-ring donation option, and don’t forget to share this link with your friends! Loading filters into the new kiln.

Spotlight on a Factory: Filtrao Factory, Cote D’Ivoire The Filtrao Factory (filtrao.org) was established by Kouakou Ahuié in Abi-djan, Cote D’Ivoire on September 15, 2010. Ahuié started the project as part of the activities of an association called N-CHRIST, of which he is the founder and chairman. The Filtrao filter project is a partnership between UNICEF and N-CHRIST.

According to Ahuié, their biggest initial challenges were figuring out the correct dosage of colloïdal silver to use, and finding someone qualified to build an appropriate kiln. Colloïdal silver is applied to the finished filter in order to provide an extra level of pro-tection from bacteria. Filtrao asked for help from Mary Kay Jackson, who worked with Methodist Develop-ment Relief Services and Pure Home Water—two charitable organizations that focus on bringing potable water to the rural poor in Ghana. Mary Kay provided Filtrao with a formula that solved the issue, leading to certifica-tion of the Filtrao filter by the Cote

D’Ivoire’s Institute of National Public Hygiene.

When Filtrao could not find anyone in Cote D’Ivoire who was qualified to build a kiln, Manny Hernandez, the designer of the downdraft kiln typi-cally constructed for filter production, came from the US and built a “Mani” kiln for them. Now production seems to be going along smoothly at Filtrao.

Last year the Filtrao factory pro-duced 3000 ceramic water filters, many of which were distributed in vil-lages in Northern Cote D’Ivoire.

Current challenges for Filtrao include marketing and distribution of filters. However after completing a survey in our first Ceramic Pot Fil-ter Community Newsletter, The Fil-trao Factory was randomly selected as the winner of the US $500 Potters for Peace survey-participant award. Potters for Peace requested that the money be spent on factory improve-ment and/or filter marketing and promotion.

Filtrao spent a portion of the money on translation of a promo-tional video into French for use in a new marketing campaign. In the video Fernando Mazariegos, the inventor of the ceramic pot water fil-ter, talks about the origins, produc-tion and benefits of the filter. Filtrao plans to put the remainder of the funds towards creation of a locally produced video about the filters made in Cote D’Ivoire.

Women from villages in Dbakala in the northen part of Côte d’Ivoire taking home filters.

2nd Annual Work Brigade Builds Kiln and Kiln Shed at La NarañjaOur second annual Work Brigade took place from June 28 to July 4 at La Narañja. The nine participants, plus local workers and our PfP repre-sentatives, built a Mani kiln and a tra-ditional kiln shed.

The potters of La Naranja decided to keep the original kiln and build the new kiln next to it. The two kilns would share one chimney. The brigade split into two groups, one to build the shed and one to build the kiln.

By the end of the second day the kiln had been built up to the floor and to the channel that would extend into the shared chimney, and the main beams of the kiln shed were in place. By the end of the third day the body of the kiln had been completed.

On Day 4 the brigade constructed the first half of the chimney. The challenge

of tying the old kiln and the new kiln together in one chimney required some fancy brick work! The finished chimney would be 11 ft tall. The brigade also got a lesson on how to lay roof tiles.

By Day 5 the kiln was almostfinished so there was time to go on a hike in the hills above San Juan de Limay, where the brigade encountered wild cloves.

On Day 6 the brigade constructed the roof of the kiln. Step 1: make a form from plywood and brace it up flush with the top of the kiln. Next, dip bricks in a fine, hand-made mortar

and then stack them vertically on the form. Finally, place threaded rod around the bricks and tighten them together. Lastly, pour the remaining slip on top.

Each day the brigade was treated to a delicious lunch made by the pot-ters, and after a long day of work they relaxed in and by a nearby river.

For more brigade photos scroll down to a series of blog posts about the bri-gade at pottersforpeace.com/?cat=6.Thanks to brigadista Jen Mally for the photos here and in the blog posts. Thanks also to the Hamilton Potters Guild for providing funding for the materials for the kiln and shed.

Bricks are laid for the floor of the kiln and supporting posts are constructed for the kiln shed.

The kiln is getting close to its finished height. The kiln shed now has the trusses in place.

The new kiln shed, the old kiln which was built by Ron Rivera and the new kiln.

How to lay roof tiles.

The brigade takes a hike.

Building the kiln roof.

Lunch!

The source of water for making mortar and clay, plus a great place to cool off.

A big thank you to our current donorsAnnette DukeAsh KyrieBellefontaine Rotary Club Benjamin Thompson Beverly ToddBishop O’Dowd High SchoolBlake VossBruce Thron-WeberCaron Bressan Cate Maas Chris Johnson Chris RoscoeConnie Rae/ Potterae

StudiosDan JacksonDave MullinDavid & Alise Hull Deborah Indihar Don HallDoris Groven Eileen Goldwyn Elaine Stutt Ernie CarlenGordon Schriver Hamilton Potters Guild Heather & Jeffrey Grills James MeadeJan Schachter

Janet Kurtz Jeanelle McGuire Jennifer Mally Joanne Carlowski Joe CroweJohn Gibbons & Jessica

TaylorJonathan Lustig Karel Kahmen Karen Palcho Karen Tingstad Kay MuraKim Glidden–The Pottery

StudioKimberlee CarlsonKit GriffinKris & Charles DarbyLinda Allen Louis Rivera Louise Outler Malley Weber Marc’s StudioMargaret de RiveraMartha Collier Mary Barringer Mary Jo Kirschman Matt Silvern Minerva Navarrete

Molly SchultzMr & Mrs Blackman Nancy Bertolini Nicholas Bernard Nina SkinnerPatricia Odella Penny Truitt Peter Chartrand Peter GerbicPotters School Inc Rachel Myers Rebecca Boatman Rebecca Cook Robert Brecha Roger Hermanson Ronald LindeRuth Allan Ryan Justus Sandra FesslerStacy Gahlman-Schroeder Stephen & Linda McMillan Susan FitzgeraldSusanne FarringtonThe American Ceramic

SocietyThomas SkupniewitzTom FarrellWilliam Wilcox

Special ThanksSpecial thanks go out to to Don Hall for representing PFP at the Palo Alto Clay & Glass Show in July 2016.

We also want to thank Kim Glidden of The Pottery Studio for all her past support.

Upcoming local sales will raise much-needed fundsA great way to fundraise for Potters for Peace is to hold a local sale of both Nicaraguan pottery and pots by local potters. We help by providing Nica pots for the sales and local organizers do the rest of the work.

Here are some upcoming sales:

Santa Fe Sale What: Decorative Nicaraguan pottery from San Juan de

Oriente and pieces from regional potters.When: Saturday October 8 from 10 to 6

Sunday October 9 from 10 to 5Where: Santa Fe Clay

545 Camino De La Familia Santa Fe, NM 87501

Contact Penny Truitt at 505-466-1656 or abby@pottersfor-peace.org if you’d like to donate pots or help with the sale.

Washington DC saleWhat: Decorative Nicaraguan pottery from San Juan de

Oriente and pieces from regional potters.When: Thursday December 8, noon to 7

Friday December 9, noon to 7 Saturday December 10, 11 am to 3 pm

Where: First Congregational United Church of Christ 945 G Street NW Washington DC 20001

Contact Byron Adams at badams@firstuccdc.org if you’d like to donate pots or help out before or during the sale.

NCECANCECA 2017 will take place in Portland and we are plan-ning to have a show and sale at a nearby venue. We will present pottery by both Nica potters and US potters.

We have not nailed down all the details yet but if you would like to help out with the show/sale or if you just plan to attend, email abby@pottersforpeace.org and we will keep you up to date with the details.

See you at NCECA!

PFP ContactsU.S. Director: Abby Silver abby@pottersforpeace.org

Filter Project Coordinator: Kaira Wagoner pottersforpeace@gmail.com

Nicaragua Director: Robert Pillers: robert@pottersforpeace.org

Social Media Coordinator: Caron Bressan caron@pottersforpeace.org

Follow and interact with PFP on Facebook, Twitter,

and on our blog www.pottersforpeace.org Skype: pottersforpeace

Twitter: @pottersforpeace

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Pre-Columbian clay funerary urns in El Museo, Granada, Nicaragua.