Every year in the middle of summer in a tiny village of Filimonovo near Tula the Polyana Ceramic Festival is held. Translated from Russian, "polyana" means meadow, and what a beautiful and peaceful place that is. But since the village doesn't get a lot of visitors throughout the year, there is not even a paved road that leads there. But in the good old days, nearly a century ago, Filimonovo was very famous for its potters. Today, Konstantin Kehadi, a local ceramic artist and the festival organizer, is trying to revive the old craftsmanship by bringing together potters from other ceramic centers across Russia and passing the love for traditional crafts to children. Picturesque meadow by the river glistening under the summer sun - one couldn't find a better place to meet old friends and learn about traditional Russian folk art.
Children are wedging clay for the pit kiln.
Old fashion pit kiln. Ceramic toys are piled on the metal grate (there are 4 chambers in the ground underneath for the airflow). Firewood will be stacked directly on top of the ceramics, and everything covered up with about 20 layers of paper soaked in the slip. Finally, the tall chimney will be build on top of the kiln. On the second picture Konstantin Kehady is unloading the kiln.
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