We are really excited to be participating in COAST Festival 2012 this year!!
Ceramics by the Seashore – Paper Kiln Firing
Scottish Sculpture Workshop (SSW) and Gray’s School of Art are coming together for COAST Festival 2012, in the first of a number of collaborative projects over the next year.
Artists in Residence and staff at SSW will be working with students and staff from Gray’s School of Art on the grounds of Banff Castle, building and firing a ceramic kiln constructed from paper. Items made by the artists, students and participants of workshops led by Nic Whitehouse the week before will be fired. These types of kilns are an interesting and exciting alternative to other smoke/woodfire ceramic techniques.
The paper kiln process begins when the dried ceramic objects are placed in a bed of sawdust and kindling. A tepee frame is then built up around them and covered in magazine pages dipped in a clay liquid. Once this is complete the fire will be lit and the kiln will be placed over it. At this point the kiln can become extremely smokey, although it should die down after an hour and a half to two hours. Salt and sugar, known to produce reduction glaze effects (through reactions with the clay), will be put into the kiln before it is sealed and left overnight. The kiln will be cut open the next morning and left to cool before extracting the finished pieces of work.
Many hands make light work, and all are welcome to join in with the kiln building on the day – although beware of getting your hands dirty!
Euan, Beth and Kevin building a practice kiln in the sunshine
Paper Kiln Schedule
Saturday 26 March
11am: Preparation begins
Midday: Paper kiln building commences
2.00 pm: Fire is lit
3.00 pm: Paper kiln is placed on a grate over the fire*
4.00 pm: Grate is lowered to the fire plate
5.00 pm: Reduction materials added
6.00 pm: Kiln sealed
*Warning: at this point the kiln can be extremely smokey
Sunday 27 March
11am: The kiln is cut open and the work will be put on display
