Restored Danville kiln produces new exhibit

DANVILLE, Ky. — Pottery produced in a Danville kiln that sat unused for more than 20 years is now featured in an exhibit at the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea. Dragon Fire II features work created during the second firing of the restored Jackson-Powell Anagama Kiln. The exhibit opened Nov. 7 and will remain on display through Jan. 30, 2027. Most of the pieces are available for purchase. The kiln was built in Danville in 1993 by the late Stephen Rolfe Powell and Dr. Mack Johnson and follows traditional Japanese wood-firing construction. The firing process takes place over several days, with temperatures approaching 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit. As fire moves through the sloped kiln, wood ash settles on hundreds of pieces, creating a natural ash finish on the pottery. The kiln fell out of use in 2005 and remained dormant for about two decades. A community effort surrounding the Art Center of the Bluegrass eventually led to its restoration.

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