Once again I had the chance to join fellow potters in a firing of the Vault Kiln at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. Hoping that having my name on their waiting list would earn me a chance, I had thrown some experimental pieces back in November. Lucky me, I was invited to bring my two cubic feet of ware for this firing. The pots are all dated 2023!
I like to spray the flashing slips here in my studio so that they can be safely bisqued-fired on, then I apply liner glazes of my own and glue on wadding. So when I am at the kilns I simply need to measure the work and leave the right amount there for loading the next day. Unfortunately I wasn’t free to join in the soda-inserting day towards the end of the exciting firing, so when I joined the others for the kiln opening last Tuesday I only knew three or four people. One of the main reasons to keep making pots is so that I can continue to meet other potters! In spite of that we all really enjoyed the removing of delicious pots and comparing colours, shapes and techniques.
A condition of participating in one of these tech-intensive firings is cleaning the soda-formed glaze from the shelves and applying fresh kiln wash. We all wear masks and gloves for protection. The front shelves are all dealt with before we’re allowed to remove the pots on the back shelves.
I selected this one small vase to celebrate the afternoon.
Thank you, as ever, to techs Linda, Cheryl and whoever worked on the firing day and loading helper Giovanna. These occasions are highlights of my life and I must now start making for a May booking. (but earthenware first..)
I intend to take some better photos of my latest soda-fired work and will post those soon.
As I left Deer Lake Park I stopped in at the lovely heritage building that houses Burnaby Art Gallery. Their collection focuses on prints, including these early serigraphs in the current show, featuring well-known indigenous artist Roy Henry Vickers.
Those soda firings are so lovely
Thanks yet again, Gillian, for sharing with us. 🙂
Thanks Dale.