A Woodfiring Experience
in New Hampshire
In
the summer, John invites potters from
all over to participate in a nine and-a-half day workshop here at River Bend Pottery. Limited to only seven
participants each year, it offers an intense yet
supportive environment for ceramic artists to produce a body of
work, learn about woodfiring, and to share new ideas. The
workshop culminates in a 26-28 hour firing of the four chamber
noborigama that sits next to the babbling rapids in the river.
The well lit 1000 sq. ft. studio in
a 175 year old converted barn is equipped with six kick wheels,
slab roller, extruders, and all of the assorted heavy tables,
ware racks and other usual studio necessities. Working outside is
also a possibility either in the graveled kiln yard, or by the
river. Numerous colored clay slips are available as well as
John's stable of glazes.
There is a gas kiln for bisquing, and of course, the noborigama.
The schedule of the
workshop runs like this:
- Friday evening:
Introductions, planning, slides of the kiln under
construction.
- Saturday: making ware,
evening slide presentation
- Sunday: making ware, evening
slide presentation
- Monday: making ware, evening
slide presentation
- Tuesday: last making, glaze
prep, glazing
- Wednesday: glazing and
stacking
- Thursday: glazing and
stacking, kiln on gas preheat to 350F
- Friday: wood firing takes
over at 5:00 AM
- Saturday: wood firing ends
8:00 AM, sleep, dinner at 8PM
- Sunday: clean studio and
"worry out" the doors, unstack (hot!)
During the workshop
John will demonstrate numerous techniques that he uses in
forming, decorating, and glazing. One of these is throwing large
bowls using an additive initial centering method using no water.
Another is the slip inlay process that John picked up while
visiting Mashiko. He also shares use of tools like throwing
sticks (ekote) and size gauges (tombo). Altering wet forms on the
wheel will also be covered.....wet faceting, fluting, squaring
off, stretching, and the like.
John will also show
slides of the construction of the wood kiln at River Bend
Pottery, as well as slides of other climbing kilns, as he
discusses wood kiln design. He will show selected slides from his
trip to Japan, sharing some of the culture and the pottery he
experienced there, and give participants a chance to handle his
collection of Japanese pottery.
John asks that each
participant prepare a short demo on something in which they are
particularly involved which they can share with the group. This
could be such things as a forming method, a glazing approach, or
a decorating technique. He also asks participants to bring 10-15
slides of their usual work to share with the other craftspeople
participating.
Participants need to
bring about 10-15 cubic feet of bisqued cone 10 stoneware or
porcelain pieces with them to help to fill the kiln and
"take the pressure off" of the making days. In a
workshop setting, the kiln holds about 450-500 pieces of various
sizes...... be prepared.
Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is
geared for those with intermediate skills in ceramics and up.
Beginning techniques are not covered. It is assumed that you have
reasonable skills in basic throwing and handbuilding, decorating,
glazing, and the like. You don't need to be a "total
pro"..... but you will need to be able to produce a
reasonable volume of work during the four day making period, and
be somewhat self-directed.
The workshop
involves a lot of hard physical work. Wood firing is a very
"hands on" activity, and this kiln is a bit larger than
most potters are used to. Wood prep along with loading the wares
is quite arduous. Stoking the kiln can be hot, taxing work in the
summer. If you have any physical limitations, you
should discuss them with John before applying.
Each year there is a
blend of experience levels present; for example, a third year
ceramics major and a full professor of ceramics, a
just-starting-out production potter and a well known exhibiting
ceramics artist. This makes the environment exciting, and all
manner of exchange develops as the newer people pick up
techniques from the "old salts" and the experienced
folks get some fresh insights from those with fewer pre-conceived
notions.
College level academic credit (3 cr.) can often be
arranged as a separate option through the New Hampshire Institute
of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire. This option requires the
payment of the registration fee directly to the school, and the
completion of a grading evaluation by John. The cost each year for this
option is determined by the college.
The dates for
this
summer's workshop have now been set as Friday, August
18th through Sunday, August 27th, 2006.
The cost for the 9 1/2 day 2006 workshop is
only $450.00 (US), which includes materials and
firing costs. Lodging and meals costs are left to each
participant. A local lodging list is provided to registrants.
Local lodging type ranges from the campground at the Greenfield
State Park to chain-type accommodations like the Hilton about 1/2
hour away in Nashua.
The value of the pots alone that
you will bring away from this experience will far offset the total costs of
participating, not to mention the learning opportunity.
This workshop fills
very quickly due to the limited
space available. Each year the "filled date" seems to
get earlier. Participants are
booked on a "first come, first served" basis, assuming
they have the appropriate background. Spaces are held when the
completed registration form is received with full payment, and are based
on the date they are received.
A waiting list is kept each year for any possible cancellations
that might occur due to unforeseen emergencies. A place on the
waiting list is held by sending in a registration form with
payment, however in this case, checks will not be deposited
unless a space becomes available and the prospective participant
authorizes the confirmation.
Photos from the Summer
2002 Workshop
© 2000- 2001-
2002 -2003- 2004-2005 J. Baymore all rights reserved
|
|
The Virtual Gallery |
|
|
Annual League of NH Craftsman's Fair |
|
|
Home Page |
|
|
Home Page |
|
|
Send EMail to River Bend Pottery |
Studio visits are welcome. Call 603-654-2752
to make sure I'm there.
This page last updated:
04/12/2006 11:06 PM
Free
JavaScripts provided
by The JavaScript Source