Designed by Art Department Assistant Professor Christopher Davis-Benavides and Jeff Noska, area potter and owner of Composite Clay Studio, the kiln is modeled after the ancient Anagama kiln, which has been used for centuries in countries such as Japan and Korea. Based on the information we've collected from past firings, we make adaptations and adjustments during the loading and firing. Davis-Benavides says the educational rewards of the project are many. Rather than working in a studio or lab where everything is controlled, this kiln gives a true sense of the elements and the fire's impact on the pieces.
Participants also gain a real sense of the importance of teamwork.
This spring, the firing began Wednesday morning and continued through Saturday. You learn to entrust your artwork to other people, and look at the creative process in a different way. Approximately 778 pieces of all sizes were fired. Some were quite large, up to four feet high, while others were the size of a teacup. Works included a variety of forms, from functional to structural.