Intro to Saggar Firing – 2 Day Workshop

During this 5-hour workshop, each participant will make one handbuilt piece, choosing between coil or slab construction. We’ll work with a raku clay body that is well suited to handbuilding and low-fire reduction.

Once your piece is constructed, you’ll learn how to apply terra sigillata and how prepare it for a saggar firing in session 2.

Please note, due to timing, you will not be applying terra sigillata to your own piece. In the two weeks between sessions, your pieces will be dried, terra sig applied, and bisque fired.

Session 2: Sunday, November 1 · 11:00 am–1:00 pm · Location: Mary Fox Pottery, 321 3rd Avenue, Ladysmith

For this session, we will meet at Mary Fox Pottery where the firing will take place. Your bisqued pieces will be transferred for you. A saggar, sawdust, and copper carbonate will be provided. Participants are highly encouraged to bring their own seaweed or other materials they would like to experiment with in their individual firing. During this session, you will load your piece into a saggar along with your chosen combustibles and prepare it for firing.

Your pieces will be loaded into the kiln and fired the same day.

Unloading: Monday, November 2, time TBD · Location: Mary Fox Pottery

We will gather to unload the firing on Monday, November 2. (unloading time TBD) Attendance at the unloading is optional, but encouraged—the results of a saggar firing are often unpredictable, and opening the saggers is part of the experience. We will do our best to find a time on the 2nd that works for the majority of people.

This is an opportunity to explore surface, atmosphere, and chance through a relatively simple firing process. The materials and conditions inside each saggar interact in their own way, so every piece will be different.

Included:

• Clay for one piece
• Use of handbuilding tools however, please bring your own favorite tools if you have them!
• Saggar for your piece
• Sawdust and copper carbonate for use in firing
• Bique & Low-Fire Reduction Firing

Please bring: Your creativity, a willingness to learn, and for session 2, any seaweed or other organic or mineral materials you would like to experiment with in your own saggar

No previous pottery experience is required.

For more background on the process, see Mary Fox's book, Developing Glazes: Low-Fire Reduction and Oxidation.

Cancellation policy:

Cancellations must be made at least 7 days prior to the workshop in order to receive a refund. This allows us time to offer your spot to someone else.

If you cancel within 7 days, a refund can only be issued if we are able to fill your spot.

All refunds are subject to a $10 fee per participant to cover payment processing costs.

We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule a workshop 5 days prior to the scheduled date if we do not meet our participant requirements. Should this occur, you will be notified by email.