Wood
The ultimate success of any potter who fires with wood lies in the preparation and storage of properly split, well-dried wood. It is a time-consuming and labor-intensive task, but one whose rewards far outweigh the effort.
Clay
I currently source clay from Indiana and process it at the pottery. The clay is mixed with water into a creamy liquid, then placed in drying beds for about three weeks until it is ready to shape on the wheel. Around three tons of clay are needed for each kiln cycle.
The Turning Cycle
It takes almost two months to make enough pots to fill the kiln. During this time, I spend each day making, glazing, and decorating pottery. As the workshop fills with unfired pots, excitement builds as the firing day gets closer.
The Kiln
The noborigama chamber kiln is based on a Japanese design nearly 1,000 years old. Built in summer 1999 with help from Hallie Hite and Nate Evans, it was first fired that September using nearly 10,000 recycled bricks. Its three connected chambers create different results: fly ash glaze in the first, decorated glazed ware in the second, and salt-glazed pots in the third.
The Firing
Firings are held twioce a year and represent the result of months of work. The process begins by loading about 1,500 pots into the kiln’s three chambers. A small fire is kept burning for two days to dry the pots, followed by three days of intense firing, during which a four-person crew works shifts to raise the temperature to 2,350°F using seven cords of wood. Each chamber is fired in turn, then the kiln is sealed and left to cool. After a week, it is opened, revealing the finished pottery and lessons for the next cycle.
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