230 B. Intro to Wood Firing/ Soda Firing
Class - Ceramics | Available
This is an introductory class to wood & soda firing. This class is available only to students who have taken at least 1 clay class at Sawtooth.
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 vapors disperse by the heat of the fire through the kiln. The wood ash and sodium are 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.
Explore the creative possibilities of clay using a potter's wheel. Students with more experience can refine their skills while exploring new forms and design options. Decorating and glazing techniques for atmospheric firing will also be explored. Ages: 18+
Students will take an active roll in helping load and fire the kiln at the end of the session. Students will also be expected to help with one wood prep shift during the session.
A $65 wood firing fee for 25 pounds of stoneware clay, related glazes and slips will be added at time of checkout. Porcelain clay excluded.
The studio instructions are on 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, and 11/13. The firing is held at Sawtooth Wood Fire Kiln Pavilion at SECCA on 12/12, 12/13, and 12/14.
- A $60 wood firing fee for 25 pounds of stoneware clay, related glazes and slips will be added at time of checkout. Porcelain clay excluded.
For the first day of class, you will need the following:
- 1 old towel and/or apron
- 1 large car wash sponge
- 1 4-quart container to hold water
- 2-3 artist brushes sized small to medium
- 1 pottery tool kit (available for purchase on the first day of class for $25)
Chloe Foster
I think often of the ancient people who, separately and across the globe, listened intuitively to the Earth and learned to create and fire vessels with it. In my practice I am continuously striving to channel that ancestral wisdom, especially as a human who has inherited a culture of detachment from the land. My work feels grounded in intuitive forms and textures, and I find inspiration in beings of life that span ecosystems: the winding of a river; mycelium; seed pods; weathered sandstone. My sculptures are spontaneous, grown through an explorative and intuitive process. It is an embodied experience in which I am in conversation with the piece as I build it, and I learn how it wants to grow.