She had just opened the Anton Gallery in Washington DC, one of the few cities in the country where there is a network of museums and organizations fostering Asian arts. It sold well. He has been exhibiting there ever since. Then he experimented with courtly European and Chinese pottery forms in 1982 and 83. By 1984 his American work had an authority and presence that surpassed his achievements in Japan.
Happy accidents play a large role in the art of wood-firing, both philosophically and aesthetically.
Each firing has its own mood, its own character that leaves a distinctive imprint on the contents of the kiln. Nevertheless, there is much a potter can do to mold the actions of chance. When the pots are placed forward in the kiln, they will have more runs of ash glaze, and more ashy crust on the side that faces the fire. The back of the kiln, which fires at a cooler temperature, is more likely to produce an austere, barely-fired look. Orientation of the piece is also very important.