- Matthew Lovein’s
signature piece, called the Wish Keeper is his original
design and concept which first began in 1992. Mary explained, “He
woke me in the night and said, ‘I’m going to make a Wish Keeper.
I’ve seen it in a dream’.” The dream showed the vessel which sits
on a distinctive base and has a lid formed like bamboo, representing
strength and flexibility. When lifting the lid a silk cord is
revealed with an inner chamber which holds a parchment with your
written wish.
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- Making other
shapes and sizes of Wish Keepers developed into various sculptures
and other mediums. The artist’s dreams continue and his art takes
on new forms and world class works of art such as Suspended Lid,
Haiku, Six Foot Eight, Myphoria , The Oracle, to mention a
few. His expansive studio is equipped with kilns for firing glass
and ceramics and a metal working shop.
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Raku is a 16th century process that was
used in the Orient to make very special cups for the sacred tea
ceremony. They chose to use that style of firing because each
piece is unique and cannot be duplicated, with the crackles and
patterns from the smoke and fire.
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After each Wish Keeper is
fired, a special formula of glaze is applied and the piece is fired
again to 2000 degrees. Then the artist, wearing a fireman's suit
and a fresh air respirator, removes the bright orange glowing piece
from the kiln. It is then lowered into a container of dry
combustibles, that are gathered from the surrounding area. After
catching fire, the container is covered and the magic begins, with the
movement of the smoke and flames.
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Once the firing is complete, the vessel is removed,
washed and scrubbed, like a newborn infant. Each is different
and emerges with its own distinct characteristics. Part of the
whole experience of Raku is the acceptance and appreciation of all the
variations that arrive through the spontaneous process. The
procedure takes a lot of endurance and finesse to perfect and the
results of excellence are measurably rewarding.
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- The Wish Keepers can
be converted to be used as a
- Memorial Urn
- and can also be personalized with name and dates.
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