I’ve been thinking a lot about long farewells recently and about the things we do after a funeral to keep memories alive. After my own dad died we eventually received a plastic container with his ashes. We thought long about what we wanted to do with this and decided to commission an urn from a ceramics artist called Ann Bates.
The whole process of commissioning the urn was really helpful for me to feel we were doing something that dad would himself have like – he enjoyed a “project”. I’ve still got on my desk a couple of pieces of ceramic that Ann sent us to check on colours and designs. She was able to make it almost into a sort of little ceramic elegy for my seafarer dad. Colours drawn from the ocean, patterns of waves, and inside the lid (and now forever hidden) a little star map.
By strange coincidence Ann was in touch this week and she mentioned that she is exhibiting at a Fair in July. Details in the poster – it’s in Derbyshire so if you’re in the area you might like to drop in.
Dad’s urn is still in the garden – I’ve attached a photo and it is (just) visible among the flowers in a rather wild corner. A couple of years ago an adjacent wall had to be replaced and the whole patch was completely trampled and seemed to be ruined – just bare earth. But the white geraniums recovered and life returned and this year it is more lush than ever.
Good luck with the Fair, Ann and thanks again for your work on dad’s urn.
Thank you so much, Michael! I also enjoy a project and learning about the star map and the importance of it was particularly interesting. I often find myself seeking out Orion’s Belt and remembering working with you on the design of the urn for your dad.