Kickoff to Summer Barrel Firing Workshop

Kickoff to Summer Barrel Firing Workshop

Saturday May 16 10:00am – late afternoon

$150.00 // 15 available spots

All materials included

280 S Saint Paul St

Hamilton, VA 20158

 

Join us for a day of barrel firing! In this workshop you will learn how to barrel fire pots – a modified version of the ancient technique of pit firing.

Participants will learn to treat their pots with chemical colorants, copper wire and organic materials. Once treated and prepared you will learn how to prepare the barrels for a successful firing, and how to load the pots for the best effects. The barrels will burn most of the afternoon; when cool enough to remove the pots they will be washed, waxed and sealed.

Barrel fired pots are not food safe and will not hold water. The pots you create in this workshop are one of a kind works of art and can not be replicated.

*** IMPORTANT ***

Participants will be provided 5 lbs of Raku clay and terra sigillata. You may hand build your pots or throw them on the wheel. Closed or semi-closed forms work best, no texture – think forms like bottles or vases. Pots must be made of the raku clay provided, treated with terra sigillata and bisque fired to cone 08.

I will be doing a cone 08 bisque firing at my home studio. All pots must be bone dry, treated with terra sigillata and delivered to my home studio no later than Friday May 1st. This will be the only cone 08 bisque firing I will be doing. If your pots are not ready by then it will be your responsibility to have them bisque fired elsewhere before the workshop.

Materials are provided but feel free to collect organic materials you may want to use at the workshop – pine needles, seaweed, flowers, eggshells, etc.

This is an all day event and we will be outside. Please dress appropriately and bring a camping chair. Please also bring a dish or snack to pass while the barrels burn. It will be a great opportunity to meet and hang out with other potters from different studios. Please contact Erin McQuary <erinmcquary@gmail.com> to arrange pickup of your materials or with any questions you may have.

Looking forward to seeing everyone and creating some one-of-a-kind pots! What a great way to kick off summer!

Rain date: Sat May 30th