Pit Firing Workshop @ Harmony

Join ceramicist Peter Phillips for this three hour emersive Pit Firing Workshop.

Pit Firing Workshop: Honoring Fire and Earth

Join us for a special three hour immersive pit firing experience rooted in one of pottery’s oldest traditions. Together, we'll carefully prepare and place our works into the fire’s embrace, letting earth, flame, and time shape each piece in unexpected ways. 

Thursday 29th May 4pm-7pm
Pick up, Friday 30th May 4pm-7pm

From 4pm, we will prepare and place our works into a dug out pit, filled with ground litter that acts as our mark maker and fuel source. Layering natural materials like leaves, seaweed and compost, each chosen to coax unique colours and patterns from the flame. As the fire moves and breathes, it imprints smoke and minerals to clays surface, leaving behind smokey veils, flashes of color and organic marking unique to each form.

Come prepared to work with the elements and honour the ancient alchemy of making. 

These images are from previous pit fire workshops that Peter has lead, to give you an idea of what is possible.

Cost: $80 / person - cash on day please

Type of work suitable for this firing type:

Bisqueware encouraged / greenware will still be accepted.

Clays that have been sized with sand, grog or even paper, are more likely to brave the impact of open flame firing. During our pinch pot workshop (https://events.humanitix.com/p...) we will be using white grog raku clay, in anticipation for the pit firing.
For more specific clay recommendations or ways to make your clay more resistant to thermal shock, please reach out via email:- p.phillipsjd@gmail.com

This style of firing is best for non-functional ceramic works, like sculptures and garden pots.
This is because our maximum temperature range is 1000 degrees celsius, not quite hot enough to seal the pottery surface. The options for sealing the pottery will be available on the friday.  

Friday 30th, 4pm-7pm:
We will unveil the pots from the pit, discuss their qualities and reasons for certain marks. We will discuss ways to seal the pottery to be watertight. Bring a box to take work home with you

What to bring:
• Between 8 medium sized works (bowls/vases/sculptures) to 15 small sized works (cup of beads/pinch pots/ cups). Everyone will have an equal amount of space available to them. Bring extra incase there is room to spare
• Maximum ceramic work size: 30cm x 30cm x 30cm
• Optional: Combustible materials to fire your work with (eg. salt/sticks/grass/compost/coffeegrounds etc)
• Plate of food to share (finger food)

Please dress warmly as the pit firing is an outside event, with a shed nearby for dinner preparations.

Looking forward to getting fired wth you!