Beatrice Drew

Adoption In The Afterlife

Urns are a depiction of the departed. The urn is a vessel that is a replacement for what once was a physical body. Keeping ashes of loved ones in urns memorializes the respect and love others had for them when they were alive, and the acceptance of their passing. Adoption In The Afterlife brings these beloved dogs’ ashes to a place for them to be remembered, noticed, and loved even in their afterlife.

These dogs are family members, best friends, and loyal companions. They have always been by their owners, providing comfort, love, and care. Much like any human family member, these dogs have changed their owners’ lives forever, even after they have passed on. Keeping the memory of a family member can be done in many ways. No one wants to forget the impact that their dog has had on them. They are constantly adoring, always present. Their ashes have been privately gathered and yet, are not at rest. Before coming into my possession, the ashes of these loved ones had no home. These ashes needed a home, and the best home for them was in a ceramic glaze.

Glazes are various and complex earth-based and human-made minerals mixed with water. They then are placed on a ceramic piece and fired to form a glass-like surface around the clay. Mixing a glaze is time-consuming, and requires a lot of care. Each powdered mineral must be measured out exactly right, in an effort not to disrupt the glaze recipe. Ashes must be sifted, ground, and slowly handled, so that each bit of them won’t be left out. Water has to be slowly added to avoid dust and get the glaze to a perfect consistency. Taking days to mix the perfect glaze is what provides a perfect memorialization. The ashes are returned to a physical body, the body of the clay.

The interesting thing about the ashes being in a glaze is that you don’t ultimately choose what your glaze gets to look like, the ashes also make that choice. The dog is taking the leash on how they want you to see them in their afterlife. Dogs come to you how they are, while they are alive you can help them along, but at the end of the day, they express themselves how they want. Like fur, the texture of the glaze is diverse, some ashes caused bubbling in the glaze, and some came out smooth. Pigments were placed into the glaze to help each dog’s personality shine, but the colours still greatly varied in intensity. Ultimately the ashes chose their physical expression.

Adoption In The Afterlife brings these dogs back to be recognized again. They are to be celebrated for the lives they lived, and the lives they changed. The dogs now sit, immortalized, and returned into our lives again. The dog tags are their namesake, the urns are their body, and their ashes are their forever present influence.

“The dog is taking the leash on how they want you to see them in their afterlife. Dogs come to you how they are, while they are alive you can help them along, but at the end of the day, they express themselves how they want.”