Wood Fire Workshop (Two Weekends)

Develop your wood firing skills during this hands-on workshop led by Shawn O’Connor; Ceramics Artist and Assistant Professor of Visual Arts at Sweet Briar College. As wood burns, it releases stored minerals and gases, which creates a unique surface and pattern on the surface of the during the firing. It makes every piece unique and one of a kind. Participants will take part in all aspects of firing Sweet Briar College’s catenary arch wood kiln and will be guided through every step of the process from start to finish. Participants will get a 25lb bag of STARworks Okie Medium. Work will need to be bisque fired before glazing and loading. There will be a glazing and kiln loading workshop at Sweet Briar’s Ceramic Studio. Following the glazing workshop, participants will load and fire the wood kiln, typically a 28-hour process under the guidance of O’Connor. Participants will be guaranteed at least 1.5 cubic foot of space in the kiln (or equivalent to 25 lbs of clay). Learn more about Shawn O’Connor’s work by visiting his personal website: shawnoconnorceramics.com 

Schedule 

Nov 7 – Making workshops @ Academy Ceramic Studio

1 – 4pm,  Clay Pickup and open studio to create work for the workshop. 

Dec 12 – Glazing and kiln loading workshop @ Sweet Briar College Ceramics Studio

11am – 2pm: Studio orientation and glaze instruction. Shawn will share information on SBC’s stock glazes and provide support as participants prepare the surfaces of their work for the firing. 

2pm – 5pm: Kiln Loading

5pm:  lighting of the kiln 

Dec 12-13

Participants will take three-hour shifts from 5pm Saturday until 10pm Sunday firing and stoking the kiln. There are always two people on shift at a time. 

Dec 19 – Kiln unloading 

Participants arrive on the kiln pad by 9:00 a.m. to unload the kiln, discuss results, clean the kiln and furniture, and pack work for transportation.

Sponsored by:

with Education Access Program Discounts Underwritten by