Workshop Registration for John Dix: Artist Take & Demo will open Wednesday July 8th at 7pm
Introduction to Soda Firing: Workshop Led by Yuki Watanabe at Clay Creations
Introduction to Soda Firing: Workshop Led by Yuki Watanabe at Clay Creations
Introduction to Soda Firing
Workshop led by Yuki Watanabe at Clay Creations
Ruby’s is pleased to offer an opportunity for Rubyites to experience the magic of soda firing!
Registration opens on Wednesday, April 15th at 7pm.
Fee: $100 *
Limit: 10 participants
Event open only to current Ruby’s community members.
Sliding scale fee offered by using coupon codes during registration:
WS25%OFF for $75 fee
WS50%OFF for $50 fee
WS75%OFF for $25 fee
Honor code applies
*This event is being offered at a reduced rate thanks to a generous donation to the Ruby’s Workshop Committee to help enrich our community programming.
Workshop Details:
This workshop is spread out over 3 days:
Day 1: Sunday June 14th, 9 to 10:30am Lecture at Ruby’s Clay Studio
Yuki will provide an overview of the process of soda firing, the effects of the flame and atmosphere on pots, what forms and clay work best for this firing, which ‘liner’ glaze to use, demonstrate flashing slip applications and stacking, and show/display some examples of recent work.
This lecture will inform participants’ choices of the work they want to make for the firing in September.
Day 2: Saturday September 5, 9am to 3:30pm(approx.) at firing site near Half Moon Bay, CA (about 45 miles south from SF)
On-site prepping of the pots and loading of the Kiln
Review of flashing slips and glazes; participants glaze/slip their work
Wadding of all the pieces; loading the kiln.
Day concludes after loading the kiln.
The gas-fueled kiln will be fired overnight by Yuki and Margaret, the owner of the studio.
There will be a lunch break–– bring your own lunch.
Day 3: Saturday September 12, 9am until early afternoon at firing site near Half Moon Bay, CA
Unloading the kiln!
Talk about flame patterns; review pots; discuss results.
Day ends after a full clean-up. There will be grinding, kiln-wash painting of the shelves and clean-up of the kiln. (N95 mask or respirator necessary!)
Participants can linger to share results and look at each other's work.
What participants can expect:
-This is an “introduction” to soda firing. It is a hands-on workshop, but it is not tailored to teach how to fire a soda kiln or spray the soda. The kiln will be fired at night; participants may request to attend the firing, at the discretion of the firing center owner.
-This will be a communal event; participants commit to loading, unloading and cleaning the kiln and working together.
-There will be some heavy lifting! Not everybody needs to lift, but some will need to, so be prepared!
-There are no promises that all pieces will fit in the kiln, but best attempt will be made to include a good selection from everybody. Folks need to be flexible… Loading the kiln is a bit like a jigsaw puzzle and it is all about fitting the right pots in the space that is available.
-Guidelines of each participants’ allotted volume of work will be provided in advance.
-The workshop does not include clay or bisque firing, nor is there time allotted to work with wet clay during the workshop. Participants should make their pieces and arrange to bisque-fire their work independently. They are expected to bring their bisqued pieces to the firing location on Day 2.
Artist Bio: Yukiko Watanabe is a San Francisco-based atmospheric (wood, soda, etc.) firing ceramic artist. Her work incorporates clay dug from Japan and Northern California for surface decoration and glaze to honor the place she resides(d) and for users to feel connected to the earth. She is also an art educator teaching in multiple community ceramic studios in the Bay Area.
Questions? Email workshop@rubysclaystudio.org
The studio reserves the right to cancel the workshop if there are not enough registrations, in which case refunds will be issued.
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