stills from...Video of firing Anagama (abridged)

Don Reitz describing how the fire will flow around pots in the kiln

A five day firing, then five day cooling.  So we saw about 35 minutes from the entire process, actually including some of the loading and unloading of the kiln.  Wonder what percentage that would come out to be...

Dragons breath, the puff of smoke coming out of the firebox...it shows dark at the top of the kiln.

That's Charles Freeland in red, about 17 years ago.

Stoking the side ports

The kiln was about 40 feet long, 4-1/2 feet high, and around 6 feet wide.

During the 5 day cool-down, participants went sightseeing in Colorado and Arizona.

Then a chain of people unloaded everything, when wares were still pretty hot.

Some of Charles' work...

Different finishes based on where the pots were in the firing.

Several members of the Clay Club shared that they wood fire in this area.  Many of the students at BMCA Clay Studio have never observed a wood kiln.  It's a smokey affair and gives results that aren't duplicated in other kilns.  Thanks Charles Freeland, for sharing his experience with all of us.  Charles is the manager of the Clay Studio of Black Mountain Center for the Arts.

Clay Club eating and greeting

Some great deserts...and a few more nutritious items...you just never know in a pot luck!

We enjoyed seeing Charles' firing the anagama kiln with the late Don Reitz back in the 90s at N. Arizona U. in Flagstaff.  (Some shots of the video with both Charles and Don will be in tomorrow's post)

Here are the great potters who joined us last Wed. night in Black Mountain.  (I just love taking photos of people eating!)

Ready for Clay Club

Molly is spiffing up the windows so they will shine for all of us tonight as Clay Club folks (everyone interested in clay) come to share a pot luck and a short video of a wood firing kiln (Anagama) done by our own Charles Freeland and the late Don Reitz at Arizona U.

Remember Clay Club

Just a reminder, for all of you who are able to come, this Wed. at 6:30 to our party of potters...and it's a pot luck too.
Drinks and paper goods will be provided by the Studio.
We will be missing some of our regular folks, so I hope the newer pottery lovers will enjoy meeting the folks that can come.  I know this is a busy time of year for potters who make their living at potting.
A video of Charles Freeland and Don Reitz firing the Anagama Kiln in Arizona (not too many years ago, but we will soon see!)...and live...Mathilda Tanner giving a short demo on her incising techniques...and just general relaxing fun.

Clay Club here Nov. 12

Clay Club is coming to Black Mountain Clay Studio.

Wed. November 12, 6:30-8:00 pm.

A Pot-luck dinner will be shared.

It's always an open meeting for whoever has interest in clay.

Entertainment will be watching part of an Anagama wood firing in video at N. Arizona U by Charles Freeland and Don Reitz...and seeing how Mathilda Tanner works her magic in incised designs.  And maybe Geoff Bird will show something fun also.

I hope you will mark your calendars.  And imagine being there, with your favorite food to share.  I sure hope to see you then!

For directions, look for Black Mountain Center for the Arts, and the clay studio is a small building behind and downhill from Thai Basil Restaurant and the BMCA!

Mathilda's incised designs

Mathilda teaches one of our classes at BMCA Clay Studio.  She is an accomplished potter, and has claimed for herself a great technique of designs on the surface by incising.

If you can't sign up for her 6 week class, she also teaches one-day shorter classes...by appointment. 

She'll demonstrate the technique she uses to incise designs at the Clay Club meeting on Nov. 12, 6:30 pm.

The Clay Club is open to anyone interested in clay...and is a great opportunity for potters who work in their own studios to come together and socialize and share news.  Their monthly meetings include a Pot Luck supper, so come over and bring a dish to share!  The November meeting includes a great video.  More news on that soon!

Picture album, 2012 Clay Studio

Here is the roofline of BMCA Clay Studio, as seen from the lower parking area...

 
 The following pictures are of students and teachers at the clay studio throughout 2012

 













  

Clay club visit postponed

With all the potters shows going on this time of year, the Clay Club visit to BMCA clay studio has been postponed.  We really were wanting students of clay and potters who do this for a living to get in the same room together.

Charles Freeland and John Britt will let you know when the new date is set for our hosting the Clay Club.

Look for information on the board in the studio, or here on the Clay Studio blog of BMCA.

Don't miss the Spruce-Pine Potters Market on the 13th and 14th.
Don't miss our own Fred Feldman as a studio potter/wood worker, on the East of Asheville Studio Tour also the 13th and 14th.
The list goes on...just look for events around Western North Carolina in October and you will have to pick and choose.

Clay Studio to host Clay Club

October 10, 6:30-8:30 pm
Wednesday evening

Please join Black Mountain Center for the Arts Clay Studio in welcoming a Clay Club evening.  Everyone is welcome!!!

This is a pot luck, so please bring some food and beverages.  We can also use some paper goods (sign up in studio so we don't get duplicates!)

Demonstrations will follow our getting to know each other and eating.  Charles Freeland has offered to show his canister making process.  If you'd like to demonstrate a technique in clay, please let Charles know.

The Western North Carolina Clay Club is made up of potters who gather to connect with other potters.  They usually meet the 2nd Wed. of the month.  More information about Clay Club can be obtained by checking out their blog at NC CLAY CLUB


BMCA Clay Studio is a teaching studio, as you can see by exploring more of this blog.  Our students enjoy working in our comfortable studio daily in classes or open studios.  We especially like being a community of people interested in clay.

Clay Club meets at Clay Studio of BMCA

First picture of the group, half Clay Club, half BMCA Clay Stuio folks.

The group of folks who gathered, (not including James and a few late-comers, but Barbara wanted to get into this shot.)



Such a spread! Thanks to all those who contributed!

Erin Campbell, Gale Jackson and John Britt having a discussion over dinner. Don't ask Erin how to get people's attention for announcements!

John was the spokesperson for The Western North Carolina Clay Club, an open group of pottery people who gather monthly to eat and do something interesting. Or maybe they don't always eat, just gather to get out of their studios, mostly from Yancey and Mitchell Counties.

That blueberry cobbler was a real winner. Emily, Annie and Erin are watching John (behind camera.)



Annie and John had a discussion, about what they would demo perhaps?

John showed Sarah Ann, Sarah, and James and the other Sarah how he makes little chairs by cutting blocks of clay. (Video has been posted on Clay Club site). Anyone else named Sarah is welcome to join the group!


The Black Mountain Center for the Arts Clay Studio was thrilled that Clay Club had its May meeting here (May 11, 2011). A big thank you goes to John Britt, Emily Reason, and Annie Singletary who demo'd different clay techniques for us all.