I’ve been preparing for this week for all of February. On Monday I took my little collection of bisque-fired stoneware pots to Shadbolt Centre’s soda and wood kiln area. Thunder Bay and part-time BC resident Arlynn Nobel has been giving her annual ‘Making Pots for Soda-firing’ workshop and four of us were invited to join the group for the actual soda firing, to help fill the kiln (for a fee).
By the time we arrived the workshop participants had already used the glazes and flashing slips on their pieces, wadded them and set them out on shelves in the frosty kiln shed. I’d already glazed most of the insides of my pots, just using the delicious ‘Tesha’ and ‘Robin’s White’ on a few. All were already sprayed with my flashing slips and bisqued. I mixed up a couple of new slips so I’ll be interested to see what effect they have on my clay. Everything is carefully listed in my note book so that I can attempt to replicate anything that works out well. Wadding takes a couple of hours, but I join a group firing partly to have the chance to meet and chat with other potters anyway.
Arlynn herself opted to pay to be one of the extra four joining the firing because she wanted to include some pots by her collaborater Lisa Buck. They had both done a residency at Watershed Arts Centre two years ago and had been paired up for a show. Arlynn had sent some pots to Lisa to be glazed and here she was glazing and spraying Lisa’s pots. The Watershed Collaboration exhibit will be shown during this year’s NCECA in Minneapolis, in the California Building.
In the late afternoon, as the sun was setting over Deer Lake and the crows were congregating, I walked down to the main Shadbolt building to collect a pot from my previous soda firing last November. Fredi had selected it to display in the Mather House outdoor showcases as part of the advertising for upcoming soda workshops. I hadn’t held it since the day it came out of that kiln. As often happens, it seemed to have shrunk! I really like the consistent orange peel and colour all round it and the fact that the lid is a good fit but I think I shall call it a tea caddy.
My next blog will show photos of soda introduction and draw ring extraction, and some fine pots that are on display in the main building.
