217 Special Topics - Wood and Soda Firing

217 Special Topics - Wood and Soda Firing

Class - Ceramics | This class is completed

251 N Spruce St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101 United States

Wheelthrowing - Ceramics

Intermediate

7/12/2022-8/30/2022

6:30 PM-9:00 PM EDT on Tue

Download iCalendar

$338.00

$304.20

$30.00

Join us for the inaugural firing of Sawtooth’s newest wood fired kiln! Explore form, function, textures, tactile qualities, and surface development of atmospheric firing. Participants will develop an understanding of the unique qualities and processes of using wood and soda vapor to fire ceramics. During the firings, the draft created by the chimney pulls wood ash  and sodium (soda) vapors released by the heat of the fire through the kiln. The ash is deposited on the ware in the path of the flame and creates a varied palette of colors and textures not achievable in any other way.

 

This intermediate level class is geared towards individuals who feel comfortable with the fundamentals of wheel throwing or hand building and are eager to improve their skills. Explore how to use the potter's wheel as a tool for creating composite forms. Learn techniques for combining thrown and slab-built parts. Those comfortable with the wheel can expand formal possibilities by using slabs and hand-built elements. Those more familiar with hand building will see how the wheel can be used as a tool to create parts and pieces to build with. Students will learn how to embellish their pieces using slips and glazes for wood/soda. For those making functional work, all pieces will be food safe and fully functional. Ages: 18 -  Adult

  • Participants working on the wheel should feel comfortable centering and throwing without assistance. Those hand building should have a foundation of working with slabs and understand the stages of clay dryness and how to attach parts securely.

    Students will be expected to spend some weekend time at the wood kiln helping to prepare for firings by splitting and stacking wood and will take an active role in working firing shifts in teams with more experienced students to experience this exciting and unique process.

    Class meets 8 Tuesdays, July 12th - August 30th from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM. Students will then have bonus access to additional open studio hours through September 27th. 

     

    Firing Schedule:
    Load: evening of Tuesday, Sept 27th

    Fire: Friday, Sept 30th - Sunday, Oct. 2nd

    Unload: Sunday afternoon, October 9th

  • A $30 material fee for the first 25 pounds of stoneware clay and related glazing and firing will be added at time of checkout. Porcelain clay excluded.

    For your first class, you will need to bring a an old hand towel or bath towel, a large car wash sponge and a bucket or other open container to hold about a quart of water. Additionally, you will need a pottery tool kit (if you do not already have one). To purchase, please bring with you to your first class $20.00 cash or a check made out to Sawtooth School for Visual Art. If paying cash, please bring exact change, as we can not currently provide change.
Bury, Amanda

Amanda grew up in the Pacific Northwest part of the U.S. She is a lover of the outdoors, and remains forever influenced by her time working summer gigs on farms. Whenever possible she is a gardener (although difficult with the nomadic lifestyle of a studio artist) and a big advocate for supporting your local farmer. Amanda received a Bachelors of Art in Studio Art and a Bachelors of Art in Anthropology from Central Washington University. She then went on to pursue Post-Baccalaureate study in Ceramics at the University of Montana. Amanda has spent time as an artist in residence across the country including The Morean Center for Clay in Saint Petersburg, Florida and Belger Crane Yard Studios in Kansas City, Missouri. Amanda is now working as a full time studio artist based in Advance, NC. She regularly shows in invitational and national juried exhibitions. Her work is held in both public and private collections worldwide.