One of the things that distinguishes potters from artists who work in other mediums is our willingness to share secrets, work as a community, and generally help out one another.  Over the course of the summer, the residents and staff at Watershed have worked, lived, and played together; many have formed bonds which will last a lifetime.  Thus, as a last end of summer project, we decided to organize a group firing of the wood kiln.   A very time-consuming and labor intensive project, a wood fire relies heavily on cooperation of the group and the ability of those involved to work as a team.

In order to give participants plenty of time to make work, we began planning this event weeks in advance.  As the date of the firing drew closer, we began prepping and splitting wood.  It is essential to have more than enough wood on hand before the firing begins, and we accumulated enough fuel for our firing as well as Watershed’s annual October Wood Firing Event.

Asa and Reed on loading day.

On the day we had set to load the kiln, bisque fired and glazed work was transported from the factory studios up to the kiln area.  Here we finished prepping the pieces for the kiln by placing small wads of a mixture of one part alumina and one part EPK on the bottoms of our work.  This prevents the ware from becoming glazed to the kiln shelves.  The kiln was then loaded and a small fire was built just in front of the fire box (known as “candling” this allows the kiln, and the work inside it, to heat up slowly.)  At around 4 am the next day, the fire was transferred to the actual fire box, and stoking began soon after.  The kiln continued firing all day, and finally neared the target temperature of cone 12 at 2:30 the following morning.

Jeffrey and Adero stoking the fire.

Since so much depends on the atmosphere, placement in the kiln, hot or cold spots in the kiln, and a number of other factors, it is always a surprise to view finished work from a wood fire.  After allowing the kiln to slowly cool for more than 2 days, we were able to unload our pieces.  The results were wonderful, nice ash deposits, rich and toasty browns, nice flashing, and unexpected glaze reactions.  However, even more important than the great results is the experience of having worked together to pull of this great project…I will always remember my first wood firing as a time spent with gifted artists and great friends.

Colden checking out the finished pots.

Finished jug by Reed Fahnestock.

Tile by local potter Scott Fuller in the foreground, my finished gator on the right and my oval casseroles on the left.

Housed in the former brick factory, the summer studios at Watershed were once situated on the hill, near where the house is today.  But, at some point, the building was picked up and moved down the road to its current, more secluded, site.  It offers a wonderful, rustic, loft like setting for the summer residents at Watershed.  The summer session residents share a large communal studio space, located at the far end of the facility.  This group space allows for the easy exchange of ideas among the residents.

Ceramic art by Reed Fahnestock.

After my actual session ended, I moved my studio space to the other end of the building.  Here I am able to enjoy the ability to spread out a little more, and the light is truly wonderful.  I also have the added benefit of working near Watershed’s Facilities Director, Reed Fahnestock. Reed recently took on this position rather recently, having just completed residencies in Colorado and California.  He is both a brilliant artist, and a great asset to the Watershed Community…plus we share the same taste in music.

Fairy-tales, legends, mythical creatures, and oddities have always been of great interest to me.  When I began working in the factory studios, I wanted to allow these interests to play a greater role in my work.  And over the past few weeks, Watershed has given me the time and space to continue to explore a more sculptural, non-functional relationship with clay.  The pieces have begun to grow and change; becoming more complex and involved, they have created a world of their own.  Pictured below are a few shots of the work I am currently interested in pursuing…I welcome and invite any comments or criticism on these pieces!

Me working in my space.

This is a sculpture of a mouse with two heads atop a winged toad.

The piece I am currently working on pictured in front of my inspiration board.

This is a partially completed sculpture of a hob-goblin astride a lady bug horse.