Woodfired Stoneware, 15x12x12in, 2024
Stoneware clay was fired in the Woodkiln at Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts as part of the in-class experience for the two sections of Atmospheric Firing that ran this semester.
Wood kiln firing is an age-old process for ceramics, where potters achieve stunning and unpredictable results through the magic of fire. The kiln is meticulously loaded with ceramic pieces and then slowly brought to temperature over 48 hours by feeding the fire with wood. This kiln can reach scorching temperatures exceeding 2350°F and requires 24-hour attention. Students and faculty stayed with the kiln in shifts, ensuring there was always more wood to fuel the kiln. This firing creates one-of-a-kind ceramics with unique patterns, ash markings, and color variations, all courtesy of the unpredictable dance between fire and clay.
