GAYA CERAMIC ARTS CENTER presents
BRUSHSTROKES & FIRE: tool-making
and anagama firing
with Troy Bungart and Hillary Kane
June 5-19, 2016
5 June: Sunday evening Welcome Dinner MOKSA restaurant
An exquisite meal set upon anagama-fired ware at the restaurant of
director Hillary Kane’s husband. 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 double slideshow given by Troy Bungart and
Hillary Kane, as an orientation to each as artists and makers, followed by a
review of the workshop schedule and a general fanning of the fires of
enthusiasm!
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6 June: Monday Studio, Kiln, Clay GCAC
A morning of introduction: to the studio in general and into the
Gaya anagama specifically. We will
orient the outset of our own making by exploring a variety of finished Gayagama
works, paying particular attention to the many important variables, including
positioning in the kiln, clay bodies, slips, brushwork, tumble stacking and
decorative use of wadding.
Clay demos:
Troy and the “4 Ts”: throwing, tool use, texture and
trimming.
Hillary and hand-building: template slab forms or building from a
block
Hands in Clay: individual work time begins!
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7 June: Tuesday Brushmaking
Intensive GCAC
Under Troy’s expert tutelage, participants will observe and then
participate in making at least one bamboo brush with a fur or hair brush
head. Participants will explore the
unique quality of marks that each handmade brush makes using water or clay slip
on a variety of trial surfaces. Brush making exploration will continue with
the making of paintbrush
components of clay (ferrules and handles).
Individual work time can continue with brushes as
well as vessels for firing.
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8 June: Wednesday “Tools as Art and Inspiration” GCAC
Clay demo: (morning) textures for wood fire
Slide talk: (after lunch) Sharing his philosophy that high quality tools
provide an aesthetic inspiration for high quality work, Troy will show examples
of highly creative custom work and beautiful solutions to challenges he’s set
for himself.
Individual Work Time continues (afternoon)
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9 June: Thursday Making
Fine Wood
Tools GCAC
Troy discusses Indonesian woods and demonstrates how he makes his
wood tools using a belt sander. Prepping fresh-cut bamboo for brushes.
Individual Work Time
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10 June: Friday A
Final Moment of Making GCAC
Participants continue full-throttle finishing clayworks: trimming, assembling, surfacing
for drying time. Likewise, brush-making
and wood tool making can continue. All
materials and assistance will be on hand.
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11 June: Saturday Brushstrokes and Clay
GCAC
Final finishing of pieces for firing. Then group time to undertake together the decorating
of our anagama pieces with slips, stains and glazes using our handmade
paintbrushes!
Saturday evening : FIRE Ceremony and wood-fired pizzas Kasa Kaneyasa
Enjoy a stimulating, cleansing “Puja”
(Hindu fire-ceremony) at the home of director, Hillary Kane. Followed by a fitting evening of stoking the
wood-fired pizza-oven. Pizza-making
participation required!
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12 June:
Sunday Loading the Dragon GCAC
Working in shifts, we begin the slow and
particular process of loading the Gayagama.
Everyone will have an opportunity to assist in preparing various types
wadding, placing works, judging flame flow, and engaging in kiln yoga!
(Interim possibility: continued making of
wooden tools…)
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13 June: Monday Continue
and Conclude Loading GCAC
(Interim possibility: Slide talk “The Dialogue, Collaborations and
the World-Wide Web”
Troy talks about his interest and involvement in connecting
artists and in promoting public awareness of the value of handmade
work. He also talks about the importance of a good photo and social
media networks.)
Sunday evening: Lighting
Ceremony GCAC
Candling begins along with first all-night firing shift.
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14 June: Tuesday FIRING GCAC
Low-mid range temperatures.
Participants rotate on predetermined 6-hr. shifts through day and
night. Transport and meals will be
organized accordingly.
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15 June: Wednesday FIRING GCAC
Sustained high temperatures, working back side stoke ports,
salt/soda introduction, final peak temperature, and dramatic reduction
cooling.
Ending in a pizza-making in the residual heat pizza oven!
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16 June: Thursday R&R
FREE DAY
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17 June: Friday Excursion Day
TBD (but something wonderful, inspiring,
and uniquely Bali!)
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18 June Saturday Unloading and Finishing GCAC
A slow and considered unload (this is when we have everything to
learn!) Afternoon discussing and
implementing a variety of post-firing clean-up and finishing techniques.
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19 June: Sunday Exhibiting Our Treasures GCAC
A concluding discussion of the entire experience. Then packing works to go (packing materials
provided). Final lunch together before
departure.
*In order to encourage thoughtful making in the allotted studio
time, in conjuction with considered brush and tool-making, there is a
suggestion that participants bring 3-5
bisqued pots to add to the overall anagama load.
**Details of schedule may be subject to change, but overall
content will remain constant.
