Description
“Surrender and Magic”
A Wood and Soda Ash Kazegama Firing Workshop with Sarah Wells Rolland, Karen Dubois and George Rolland
Five Day Week-Long Workshop
Day/Time: Monday-Friday (Times vary each day, most days estimated time 9-3 pm, firing day is longer)
Dates: September 23 – 27, 2024
Fee: 995.00
This workshop is full on fun!
Have you ever wondered what your pots would look like surrendered to an atmosphere of wood and soda ash? In this workshop you will experience the beauty of allowing the Kazegama kiln, wood ash, and soda ash to work it’s magic. Every piece unique, every piece glazed by the kiln.
Kilns can be a major expense for potters and most potters decide on a firing approach and all their work is fired the same way. This is an opportunity to see your work in a completely new light.
Karen Dubois, George Rolland and Sarah Wells Rolland love all things wood and soda and have been firing this kiln together since they constructed it in 2016. They are passionate about sharing this experience with others. It is a major reason why the kiln was built. Working together participants experience every part of the process.
Wood ash and soda ash make the most beautiful surfaces on pottery! Unloading the kiln is so exciting! We have such a great time as a group.
Kazegama Pots by Karen Dubois
Details:
- Cone 10 Clay bodies only
- You will bring a total 15-20 bisqued pots some approximately 9″ tall and 6″ wide and some approximately 11″ tall 7″wide. The height is a maximum. These pots can be mugs, vessels, teapots, small tea bowls or little sculptures. We use bricks to load the bottom of the kiln so 9″ pots will fit there. The 11″ pots can be vessels, etc. You can bring one tall pot not to exceed 20″ tall and 7″- 8″ wide.
- If you feel you can’t make pots this big, thats ok, just reach out to Sarah and we can make a plan. You can contact her with any questions. Click here to email Sarah
- Please no bowls or very low profile pots like plates or platters as they do not load well in this kiln.
What to expect:
- A slide presentation that will include of some of Karen and Sarah’s favorite pots from the Kazegama kiln and the construction of Kazegama.
- Applying flashing slips and liner glazes
- Wadding pots for the kiln
- Loading the Kazegama with detailed planning for best results on the pots. Karen has years of experience loading for wood and soda and she will explain to the teams as she places the work in the kiln.
- We will fire the kiln on day 3. This is a long day. However we sometimes change the day due to wind forecasts. The day will include firing, introducing wood ash and spraying soda ash into the kiln. We have a covered dish on firing day.
- The very next day we will unload the kiln.
- We will have a grinding station to clean up your pots from the wadding.
- We love “show and tell” when we gather and share a few of our favorite pieces.
***the workshop fee includes firings, all liner glazes, wadding and ashes.
The times will vary each day as it is a workshop that includes loading and firing.
Several weeks before the workshop you will receive a detailed reminder list of what to expect, what to bring, packaging materials list, and directions to the studio.
Scroll down for some participant reviews.
Info about our amazing Kazegama Kiln: Click Here
Please contact The Village Potters Clay Center at 828-253-2424 or info@ thevillagepotters.com if you have any questions about this workshop.
Skill Level 102/201/202+
This workshop is not for beginners. Seasoned beginners to advanced potters are ready for this week of fun. Read the skill guide for details.
Participants are required to bring bisqued pots with them. Work will not be made or bisqued during the workshop. Again, you can email Sarah if you are unclear about these details. See the link above.
CLICK HERE for suggested accommodations located near The Village Potters Clay Center.
Cancellation Policy
By purchasing a workshop registration, you agree to the following cancellation policy:
Student Cancellation
- Cancellation up to 45 days prior to the start of the workshop, students have the option to transfer their registration to a different workshop that has spaces available, receive a credit equal to the value of the workshop to use for a future workshop or class within a year, or receive a refund (minus a $75 administrative fee).
- Cancellation within 45-30 days to the start of the workshop, students will receive no refund, but will have the option to transfer their registration to a different workshop that has spaces available, or receive a credit equal to the value of the workshop to use for a future workshop or class within a year.
- Cancellation within 30-0 days of the start of the workshop, students will receive no refund and are ineligible for registration transfer.
*Whenever possible, The Village Potters will attempt to fill a canceled registration spot with a student from the waitlist. If the vacancy is successfully filled, the initial registrant will then have the option of a refund (minus a $75 administrative fee).
The Village Potters Clay Center Cancellation
- In the rare event that a class is canceled by The Village Potters, students will be given the option of transferring their registration to a different or future workshop, receive a credit on their account equal to the value of the workshop, or receive a full refund.
- To provide you the best experience possible in the workshop, we restrict the number of registrants. By registering for a workshop, you understand you are making a commitment to the instructor and reserving a spot that someone else could potentially take.
Reviews:
Dan Meehan: Wood and Soda Kazegama Workshop May 2024
What an incredible week at The Village Potters! Hands on learning, demonstrations, presentations, and great discussions filled every day. Sarah, Karen and George did a fantastic job organizing and leading us through the week. They were so open, willing to share, and so supportive with comments and words of encouragement. Several other amazing artists at The Village Potters contributed to the week with demonstrations, discussions or just hanging out with us. The workshop drew a great group of potters from both near and far, working together sharing ideas and tips, which added yet another level of learning. The kiln opening was a huge success. It reminded me of the best Christmas ever; I still get a huge ear to ear grin just thinking about it.
The Village Potters is a very special place – the sense of community, the creative energy and spirit, and the very highest level of support and encouragement to try new things and explore ideas. This was my first time doing wood and soda firing – I can’t imagine a better introduction.
I can’t wait to go back!
Dan Meehan
dtm pottery
May 2024
Dan Meehan with a few finished pieces from the workshop.
Lanie Paige: Wood and Soda Kazegama Workshop May 2024
My recent workshop at The Village Potters was absolutely inspiring! Thank you Sarah Wells Rolland, Karen Dubois, and George Rolland for an extraordinary comprehensive experience.
A truly masterful team focused on helping artists deeply understand how to build a Kazegama wood/soda kiln, prepare pots, strategically load, fire, unload, and kiln cleaning.
Highlighted was the notable benefits of a Kazegama kiln—it takes less outdoor space, less workforce, relatively easy to fire, and allows more frequent firings than other types of wood or soda fire kilns.
I found the fully immersive experience, demos, and high quality teaching to be soulfully enlightening. And the unique surface beauty on a variety of clay bodies was not only fascinating, but inspiring! The sharing of information, processes, tips, recipes, and that golden wisdom this remarkable team offered was priceless!
I’m excited to take the knowledge, data, tips, skills, and apply them to my next Kazegama firing! And hopefully build my own kiln in the future. Sincerely grateful!
L.P.
Lanie Paige with porcelain flower