For more information email us at: gayacac@gayaceramic.com
Colorful Soda Clay Bodies: an exploration of materials
with
Carolanne Currier
3-16 November, 2019
Clay is everything!
Well, maybe not everything, but a clay body that is responsive to soda is
extremely important for getting colorful surfaces. Come join Carolanne Currier
in beautiful Bali for a 2-week workshop, where you will make and fire clay
bodies in Gaya's soda kiln. The emphasis will be on investigating how varying
the basic clay materials can produce different results.
Our two-week exploration of
soda-firing bodies will begin with a baseline firing in Gaya's soda kiln.
Workshop participants are asked to bring 6 to 10 bisqued test clay body pieces
such as simple cylinders, cups, and small vases for loading into the kiln.
Everyone will load the kiln, learning how to place the pots for maximum
exposure to flame and soda, and an explanation of the firing regimen will be
provided. We will all prepare and add a solid soda mixture into the kiln
at Cone 8. After the firing, an examination of the pots should provide us with
an idea of what clays/materials have promise for producing flashing and various
surface effects. We will use that information to mix new clay bodies
using materials at Gaya. A second and even third firing of test pieces with
newly formulated clays will hopefully provide additional information. While the
kilns are cooling, suitable forms for this type of soda firing will be
discussed and demoed. Participants will leave having a good understanding
of the basic components of clay bodies and will have a good basis for
continuing to research materials suitable for soda firing.
Sunday,
3 Nov. - Welcome Dinner Moksa Restaurant
A relaxed evening in which participants can get to know one
another and share their stories and intentions for being here.
Dessert will be served with a slideshow given by Carolanne, presenting her works, her story, her journey in
fire and clay, followed by a review of the workshop schedule and a general
fanning of the fires of enthusiasm!
Monday,
4 Nov. - Loading Strategies GCAC
A welcome and introduction to GCAC
studio, and then immediately jumping into action! Participants glaze lining of pots for
immediate loading.
Demonstration:
Soda kiln loading strategies.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC
mezzanine
Load soda kiln (with bisqued work
brought by participants). Loading is done in shifts.
Open studio time: Carolanne will demonstrate
the basics of the Japanese hand-building technique of kurinuki and students can experiment with the technique. Participants will also have time to
begin their own projects.
(FIRING #1: LOAD, candling overnight)
Tuesday,
5 Nov. - Initiation to Fire GCAC
Inaugural firing. Following a preheat from the night prior,
participants will engage in firing according to pre-determined shifts. Everyone will be present and involved in the
actually introduction of soda into the kiln (late afternoon or early evening).
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC
mezzanine
Open studio time, participants will continue to work with
kurinuki pieces or forms of choice
while the kiln is firing.
Carolanne will assist participants as they dig into their own making. (MAKING FOR 1st
BISQUE)
(SODA FIRING #1: all day—begin 1am)
Wednesday,
6 Nov. - Importance of the Body GCAC
Morning: participants will begin
preparing Clay body tests—(using a variety of available materials, each person
will formulate a body and mix up a small batch for testing in the second
firing). A
recipe outline and guidance will be provided to assure the bodies will be
suitable.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC
mezzanine
Open studio, free time can be used
in making small pieces out of test bodies.
(FINISH MAKING/TRIMMING/SLIPPING FOR 1st
BISQUE—BISQUE KILN LOADED by 5pm)
(Kiln #1 cooling)
Thursday,
7 Nov. - A Preliminary Taste & Reload GCAC
Unload soda kiln: paying careful
attention to variation in clay bodies, placement in the kiln, slips and glaze,
the entire firing will be dissected and discussed in full.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC
mezzanine
Open studio time, participants can start mixing
additional clay bodies, using the information gathered from the first firing.
(UNLOAD BALI CAT; Prepare kiln for immediate next
firing)
(FIRING 1st BISQUE—begin 6am)
Friday,
8 Nov. - FIRING #2 / Informed Making GCAC
Morning Demonstration/Discussion: technical aspects of soda firing (clay body,
design of form, firing technique) taking into consideration all the aspects of
soda firing that are influenced by the making,
and the information just gleaned from the first unloading, participants may
consider new forms, textures, etc.
Making pots with new test
clays. Appropriate forms and textures will be discussed. Carolanne will demo a
textured slab-built bowl.
Afternoon: a careful and more
informed second loading-- participation from everyone in shifts
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC
mezzanine
(UNLOAD 1st BISQUE 8am)
(SODA FIRING #2: LOADING )
Saturday,
9 Nov.- Firing & Finishing GCAC
Following a preheat from the night
prior, participants will engage in firing according to pre-determined
shifts. Everyone will be present and
involved in the actually introduction of soda into the kiln (late afternoon or
early evening).
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC
mezzanine
Open
studio time: FINAL
FINISHING OF WORKS FOR 2nd BISQUE
(SODA FIRE #2:
FIRING all day – beginning 1-3am)
(2nd
BISQUE KILN LOADED by 5pm—small fiber kiln)
Sunday, 10 Nov.- FREE DAY anywhere Bali
(BISQUE-firing Sunday midnight- Monday noon)
Monday,
11 Nov.- Second Discoveries & Final Finishing GCAC
Unloading second firing and
discussing in detail the results and discoveries that have been revealed from
first to second firing.
Open studio: last touches on all
works by the end of the day (trimming, texturing, slipping, decorating).
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC
mezzanine
(UNLOAD Firing
#2; BISQUE kiln finishing)
Tuesday,
12 Nov. - Third Loading: New Bodies GCAC
Demonstrations/Discussions: Carolanne will share ideas
behind kiln design
Participants will be divided in to
small groups and will load in shifts so that all may have a chance at the
hands-on process.
Tours of the GAYA production
studio will be scheduled in groups so that everyone has a chance to both load
and tour.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC
mezzanine
(Bisque
unloaded 8am; FIRING #3: LOAD, candling overnight)
Wednesday,
13 Nov.- FIRING #3 GCAC
Firing will likewise be conducted in
shifts—varying the shift each person took for the first firing. All will be present again for the
introduction of soda into the kiln (late afternoon-early evening). Depending on the results
from the first firing, water may be introduced by spritzing into the burner
ports to encourage additional reduction effects.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC
mezzanine
(SODA FIRING all day—beginning 1am)
Thursday, 14 Nov.- A Day of Cooling Tirtha Empul
EXCURSION: Fire to Water-- a visit
and bathe in one of Bali’s famous water temples.
(Departure
from hotel--early afternoon return to Ubud) Departure
time TBD
Lunch: together in
a rice-terrace overlook restaurant
**temple
clothes (sarong, selendan, shirt) to bathe
in required, as well as change of clothing and towel (all will be discussed
prior)
(SODA Kiln cooling)
Friday,
15 Nov. - A Third Revelation GCAC
Unloading the third firing and
discussing in detail the results and discoveries that have been revealed from
first through third firings.
Participants will collate and share all test clay body results. Any post-firing clean up of works will be
demonstrated and conducted.
Lunch: family style in Gaya CAC
mezzanine
Slide talk: (Carolanne sharing about something
soda)
Saturday,
16 Nov.- Exhibiting Our Treasures In-Studio Gallery
Final group discussion of the entire
two-week experience. Time to admire one
another’s creations, take photographs, and pack (packing materials will be
provided).
Lunch: family style together in GCAC mezzanine
Farewell. (Departure by 2pm)
