The Village Potters Clay Center

Tag: Kilns

  • Nurturing a Crafted Life

    by Sarah Wells Rolland

    How You Can  Support Our Emerging Potters on their Journey

    IMG_2672Choosing to be a potter requires a creative spirit, a strong work ethic, long hours, and a wild capacity to dream. Here at The Village Potters we have created an environment that fosters these qualities in our 25 Independent Study & Mentoring (ISM) students.

    The whole team of resident Village Potters do all we can to partner with these interns and encourage them. We offer up to $12,000 in financial assistance to students to help them on their journey. This money is generated through the sale of our work, and through donations made toward their tuition.

    This fall we plan to raise $20,000 for scholarships for 2018. This is where YOU can partner with us and help to “Nurture a Crafted Life” for an emerging potter.

    FullSizeRenderYou are invited to an all-day event on Saturday, October 14 for three kiln openings here at The Village Potters! I (Sarah Wells Rolland) will have large work in our downdraft reduction kiln, and large work from our wood ash Kazegama kiln. These are significant pieces and will be a great addition to any collection. Judi Harwood will be firing Raku and Horsehair Raku pots made by her and the rest of the Village Potters. These pots are unique and you will see them come from the fire right before your very eyes!

    New work, large work, and lots of wonderful pots will be for sale with all the proceeds going to our Independent Study and Mentoring Program, which allows students to pursue their creative dreams where they might not without the scholarship program. If you have been wanting a large work of mine, a Raku pot of Judi Harwood’s or one others on our team, then this is the time to come and pick out the perfect piece for a great cause!

    Hannah Checking Bertha KilnWe are doing this in conjunction with American Craft Week. Mark your calendar and join in the fun of what will be an amazing fundraiser and pottery sale!

    **If you can’t make it and want to partner with us, you may make a donation to The Village Potter Independent Study Program online or send us a check. All donations are deeply appreciated and your contribution makes you a wonderful contributor to the sustaining of artists and fine craft!

  • Oh, Bertha!

    by Dearing Davis, Red Clay Halo Pottery

    The Village Potters is unique and wonderful in that we have a variety of options when it comesto firing our pieces. We have seven electric kilns, a raku kiln, a car-sized gas kiln (Bertha), and a new Geil kiln (Glorifred). We are even in the process of building a kazegama kiln, which will produce earthy wood fired pieces.  It is such a gift to have so many kiln options because it allows us to explore different firing techniques as we experiment with form, surface design, functionality, and aesthetic.firing, kiln, pottery, bertha, the village potters, asheville, nc

    All of the pieces we make and sell in our gallery have gone through two firings. This is typical for most ceramic pieces, the exception being once-fired wood pieces. The first time a piece is fired in an electric kiln to around 1940 degrees. From there we decide the next steps for the piece. It is waxed, glazed, and fired again. Each of those processes providing moments for decisions that determine the look of the piece.

    I am drawn to gas fired pieces that have experienced a reduction of oxygen while in the kiln. The gas fired look is one that highlights depth and variation in the glaze after being in a changing atmosphere. Bertha, our high fire gas kiln, has always been my white whale. She is mysterious and illusive, taunting me to engage while intimidating me with her size, and her flames. She has valves, dampers, fibers, gas blowers, and pipes leading into her giant belly. Her grandness has left me fearful of firing her on my own….fearful of even beginning to learn all of the information needed to produce gorgeous pots. So I have waited, I have added my pots to Lori and Sarah’s firings with gratefulness.firing, kiln, pottery, bertha, the village potters, asheville, nc

    It was not until a few weeks ago that I took the lead in firing Bertha myself. Hannah, Jenay, Sarah T. and I worked together to pack Bertha full of gorgeous pots. We were hopeful. Months of work and expectations of greatness makes the firing of such a large kiln feel risky. If something goes wrong in the process so much will be lost. With the guidance and help of Sarah and Lori we had a very successful firing. Bertha is being demystified.  And now….I can’t wait until I’ve fired this kiln a number of times. Until I know what more of the chemical reactions and conversions taking place are. I can’t wait until that moment where I am able to answer questions for other people, when they are learning to fire Big Bertha. firing, kiln, pottery, bertha, the village potters, asheville, nc


    Making ceramic art involves a series of challenges and conquests. We strive for weeks (sometimes months and years) to do something well, and then we experience great pride and relief upon successful execution. As potters  (and as human beings) there is always something to learn, always something new to explore. The Village Potters community celebrates strivings and successes, while encouraging forward movement and pushing creativity to its edge.