July 13-15 and 18: Reduction Cooling the Train Kiln With Kayla Noble
Kayla Noble is a second generation potter, born and raised in New York's Hudson Valley.
She completed a one year residency at Taos Clay (2016-2017) and is the current Woodfire Artist in Residence at The Clay Studio of Missoula, where she manages the firings of the 700 cu ft anagama. She enjoys exploring the potential of clay in atmospheric conditions and the possibility for conversations that can happen with an ember-bed. She primarily makes pots and pot-adjacent objects, formally exploring relationships between service and containment.
"My relationship with clay is deep. It is both romantic and empirical. I feel deeply connected to the materials I use to form my work and the trees used to fire it. Understanding these materials and processes on a technical level opens the door for a transcendent experience"
For beginners or those ready to dive deeper into their woodfire practice.
For this four day wood firing workshop conversation will be centered around developing a deeper relationship to and understanding of woodfire processes. Throughout the firing we will discuss the fuel we use, the materials we construct our work with, and how we may use these to their fullest potential. Technical conversation will also cover processes occurring in the kiln such as combustion and reduction. As a group we will discuss loading strategies, firing methodologies, and shut down practices. During the firing participants will be taught how to listen to the kiln, make intentional choices based on observation, and read an ember bed.
Each participant should bring enough work to fill approximately 2 cubic feet of bisque fired cone 10 work. We also encourage students to bring a few extra “stuffer” pieces that are approximately 3x2x2. These are not priority pieces, but are easy to use to fill gaps in the kiln, and can be added if there is extra space. After registration participants will receive an email with a list of cone 10 clays and any extra information on the workshop.
5 Participant Maximum
Workshop Schedule:
Day-1:
Students arrived at Oki Doki Studio at 9:30 a.m. Kayla will give an artist talk and presentation on train kilns. The group will spend the day discussing loading strategies as they load the kiln together, and set a stoking schedule for the remaining two days of the firing.
Day-2 and 3:
Students work together during their agreed upon shifts to fire the train kiln. Learning about a variety of different stoking patterns, how to control the kiln, manage the coal bed, and how to reduction cool the kiln.
The kiln cools for 3 days after the firing. Students will return to the studio for opening day.
Day-4:
11 a.m. students return to The Oki Doki Studio to open and unload the kiln, and have a group critique to digest the outcome of the firing. The group will clean up the kiln, and also talk about strategies for cleaning and finishing the fired work.
Learn more about Kayla here: https://www.kaylanoble.com/
Before purchasing your workshop reservation please review our cancellation policy:
When making your plans, please consider your participation means the studio and instructors are purchasing supplies months before the workshop. You are making a commitment to the instructor, and reserving a spot that someone else could potentially take.
Cancellations (minus the $75 cancellation fee) can be made up to six weeks before the workshop.
While we understand that emergencies happen, any cancellation made after the six week cancellation period is nonrefundable. If the cancellation is due to an emergency contact us by phone first, (845) 332-6585, and follow up with a voice mail and email if you cannot reach us. You will be given a credit for a similarly priced workshop at a later that calendar year. Makeup workshop credits do not carry over to the next year.