Upcoming Events: Anagama Wood Kiln Firings

		Anagama Wood Kiln Firings (updated February 12, 2008)

Upcoming Firings 2008 - click on the links for the info for each firing. Registration for each firing begins on specific dates. For those who would like to sign up, please email me on the registration dates, as the firings will fill extremely fast (sorry, no early sign ups).

March 2008 - invited participants only FULL
June 2008 - June 13 through June 21, 2008 FULL - sign up for waitlist only
Fall 2008 - TBA

Shift Sign Ups for March Firing

How things are done

These are the rules of the game, so to speak. I'll be scheduling two days to help cut and stack wood and prepare the kiln for each of the firings, and you must help to have a space in the firing. This means showiing up for the full day of work.

If you sign up to fire, you must:

1. participate in one work day for cutting wood and/or in preparing the kiln. If you don't show up, you're not in the firing!
2. get your work to the site by the day before we begin loading. (If you can't get it there on time, then it's not going in)
3. participate in all three days of loading the kiln
4. sign up for the requisite number of shifts (4)
5. participate in the unloading and cleanup of the kiln.

To remind everyone, a share equals approximately 10 cubic feet, give or take- and it is for the entire kiln, not just the anagama (roughly the size of a pallet with pots that are a foot tall). Also, for those who haven't fired with us, if you make pots that generally fall within the standard post sizes (4 1/2", 6 3/4", 9", 13 1/2", 18"), you have a better chance of getting things in. In the salt kiln, the bottom floor stacking space is 9", and we always have trouble filling it. So take the hint, and you'll get more work in! Also, larger open bowls, plates, etc. have a harder time getting in, the kiln just doesn't want to stack that way. Plates are OK if you can stack them for the firing, but not as separate pieces. Taller, narrower pots work well in many places. LARGER POTS GET LOADED ONLY IF SPACE IS ADEQUATE.

Rebuilding the anagama and the back chambers

We tore down the secret chamber, salt chamber and the chimney this past summer. Thanks to Anna and Nate, my two assistants, who gave it their all with the sledge hammer.

more photos of the teardown

We rebuilt the back chambers this summer and fall, adding another four feet of firing space to the anagama chamber, which will help with draft and will increase the amount of work that can be fired in that chamber. We took off the secret chamber, and instead, added a larger second chamber which will be for soda and salt. This chamber is about 100 cubic feet, so there is a lot more space for pots. We've also added a smaller third chamber, about 35 cubic feet, which is also for soda and salt.

The new kiln was fired in November 2005 and it was the best firing yet. Great temperature throughout and beautiful ash deposits and color in all chambers. This monster's a beaut!

more photos of the rebuild

General Info For Wood Kiln Participation

We encourage artists and students from all over the country to participate in the firings. Schools that have participated in the past include the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, the Rhode Island School of Design, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Bennington College, Skidmore College, Salve-Regina University, Harvard University, Dartmouth High School, Barnstable High School and New Canaan High School in Connecticut.

Each participant may bring as much work as they like, but we will load each persons "share" of 10 cubic feet first. Any extra work might find its way in. Work from all participants gets loaded into the kiln, and every consideration is given to insure that everybody gets equal space. The kiln is loaded by both a shelf and a tumble-stack method, and consequently, the shape and size of the pieces often determine where and how it is stacked in the kiln. It is important to be present during the loading cycle to help insure that your work gets loaded where you would like it. Work may be designated to be loaded in any of the chambers. All work must be removed from the site at the end of the firing.

The kiln has three chambers: the tube kiln, approximately 300 cubic feet of stacking space; the large salt chamber, approximately 100 cubic feet; and the smaller salt chamber, approximately 35 cubic feet of stacking space. We use about five to six cords of wood for the firing. More information...

Fees:
All of the firing fees are nonrefundable. Because of the lead time needed to purchase wood and the commitment of the participants in both their studio work and personal scheduling for the firing of the kilns, if you pay for your space and back out, you must forfeit your fee. Your emergency is not mine, and by backing out of the firing you leave all of us in a precarious situation, in scheduling shifts and manning the firing.

Participants must help in the loading, firing and cleanup of the kiln:

You may bring as much work as you like (we load as much as possible).
You must sign up for the designated work shifts during the firing (time length and number of shifts may vary depending on number of participants).
You must help with both the loading and cleanup of the kiln.
A nonrefundable fee is charged per person, which varies with each firing and number of participants. Fee's for the upcoming kiln will be posted three months prior to the firing.

Schools:

A reduced fee will be charged for high school participation. The fee will be dependent upon the number of students and their participation in the firing. Please contact us to discuss the rate.

If you are interested in participating in the firings, please contact me at cgceramics@aol.com for further information. The participant list fills quickly, so early sign-up is recommended.