During July, we were lucky to have ceramic artist Keons Sekera lead us in the ancient process of pit firing. Like many ceramic processes, the results can never be predetermined. We were lucky, though, to have a couple of real beauties come forth from the ashes.
During the first class, folks made pots – whatever they wanted to send through the fire. We use a raku clay so that the pot is better able to withstand temperature extremes and not crack or explode. The pot is then bisque fired in the electric kiln. We then covered the pot with a mixture of oxides and carbonates, wrapped it in toil foil, the saggar, with different things within the foil, including, pineapples, seaweed, lichen, leaves, copper wire, and steel wool. Those items interact , fume, stain, and basically create colors on the surface of the pot during the firing. That package is then wrapped in a further layer of clay and placed in a pit. A fire is then built around the pots and allowed to burn overnight.
We will be doing this again in August, and would love you join us.
