At 10am yesterday the ten people who had work in the latest soda firing at Shadbolt Centre arrived, full of anticipation. Six of them had spent the last few Mondays attending a ‘Making Pots for Soda Firing’ workshop with Arlynn Nobel. She had advised them on making pieces that would be enhanced by the effects of soda and last Monday demonstrated the spraying of flashing slips.

Giovanna, Carly, Arlynn herself and I joined the group to help fill the kiln. What a privilege! Of course I took oodles of photos, and certainly the first glimpse of the front pots in the kiln was very exciting. I’ll just post the pics here for you to get an idea of our morning.

We lined up at the door of the kiln and, as is the usual plan, passed the fresh pots along the line and up into the glazing room. They were arranged according to where they had been in the kiln with the idea that more information can be gleaned from that. I somewhat feel the whole thing is in the lap of the gods – or those loading the kiln. But what a fine collection it was!

The orange slips had really performed. Arlynn likes a ‘snow’ one that leaves a nobbly texture. She had sprayed her collaborator Lisa Buck’s pieces with it, and as I mentioned earlier, they will be shown along with Arlynn’s pieces which will have been finished by Lisa, in the Watershed Collaboration Show at NCECA very soon.

We shared a simple potluck lunch of fruit, cheese, crackers and goodies while we studied each other’s pots, asked questions on how effects are achieved and packed up our work. Arlynn was generous with her advice and suggestions, giving some critiques when asked. She is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable teacher.

I’ll take some photos of my own work soon. You may spot some in amongst the other pots.

As a special surprise Arlynn had made up some certificates to award to the six people who had attended the whole of her workshop. They are Nobel Prize Winners!