Women’s Spring Wood & Salt Firing

Join Melanie Bisbach for a hands-on wood and salt firing at Adamah’s catenary arch kiln. This workshop emphasizes community, collaboration, and skill-building among women ceramic artists while giving participants the opportunity to experience every stage of the woodfiring process.

Participants should bring 50–70 unglazed, bisque-fired pieces made from a cone 10 clay body. We’ll begin the workshop by discussing glazing strategies and exploring the effects participants can expect from raw clay, slips, and glazes in the wood and salt atmosphere. Adamah will provide a selection of cone 10 glazes and slips, though participants are welcome to bring their own if there is something specific they would like to try.

A variety of forms, shapes, and sizes is encouraged. Because the kiln has a very vertical layout, space for low, open forms such as plates and bowls is limited. Sets of plates and bowls should be left raw or slipped whenever possible so they can be stacked rim-to-rim. Small pieces and test tiles are especially welcome and useful for filling spaces throughout the kiln.

Throughout the workshop, Melanie will provide in-depth instruction on glazing, wadding, kiln loading, creative stacking, firing strategies, stoking, and wood preparation. Participants will learn how thoughtful placement can help guide flame and salt through the kiln and how to efficiently load a wood kiln while considering the needs of everyone’s work.

Loading will take place Saturday May 15, with the firing beginning Sunday and continuing through Tuesday. Participants will work together throughout the firing and may be assigned overnight or early-morning stoking shifts.

The group will return on Saturday, May 22, to unbrick the kiln, unload the work, clean the kiln, grind and kiln-wash shelves, and complete the firing process together. *You must be able to participate on Saturday, May 22 to be part of this workshop. 

Please Note

This is a physically demanding workshop. Woodfiring involves extended periods of standing, lifting, carrying and stacking wood, working around high temperatures, and potentially participating in overnight or early-morning stoking shifts.

Preparing for the next firing is also an important part of the woodfire process, so participants should expect to help split and stack wood during the workshop.

While participants may bring 50–70 pieces, we cannot guarantee that every piece will be fired. The number of pieces loaded will depend on their size, shape, and available kiln space. We will do our best to distribute kiln space fairly and include work from every participant throughout the kiln.

Important Participation Requirements: Participants are responsible for bringing their own bisque-fired work to the workshop and must be present for both kiln loading and unloading. Please plan your travel accordingly, as loading and unloading are essential parts of the wood-firing experience. Kiln space is limited, and firing all submitted pieces cannot be guaranteed due to space constraints and the size and shape of individual works.

Materials To Bring:

• 50–70 cone 10 bisque-fired pieces in a variety of sizes
• Clothing made from “natural fibers” 
• Closed-toe shoes suitable for studio and kiln work
• Work gloves
• Water bottle
• Safety glasses
• Mask or respirator

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Schedule:

Thursday

• 4:00–5:00 PM: Check-In at Adamah Retreat Center
• 5:00–6:00 PM: Welcome Dinner
• 6:00 PM–Evening: Studio Instruction: Glazing Strategies & Begin Glazing

Friday

• 8:00–9:00 AM: Breakfast
• 9:00 AM–12:00 PM: Glazing
• 12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch
• 1:00–5:00 PM: Continue Glazing
• 5:00–6:00 PM: Dinner
• 6:00 PM–Evening: Glazing / Free Time

Saturday

• 8:00–9:00 AM: Breakfast
• 9:00 AM–12:00 PM: Finish Glazing/Start loading the Kiln
• 12:00 PM: All work glazed and ready to load
• 12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch
• 1:00–5:00 PM: Load Kiln
• 5:00–6:00 PM: Dinner
• 6:00 PM–Evening: Continue Loading / Free Time

Sunday

• 8:00–9:00 AM: Breakfast
• 9:00 AM–12:00 PM: Brick Up Kiln Door and Begin Firing
• 12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch
• 1:00–5:00 PM: Firing
• 5:00–6:00 PM: Dinner
• 6:00 PM–Overnight: Firing & Stoking Shifts

Monday

• 8:00–9:00 AM: Breakfast
• 9:00 AM–12:00 PM: Firing + Split & Stack Wood
• 12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch
• 1:00–5:00 PM: Firing + Split & Stack Wood
• 5:00–6:00 PM: Dinner
• 6:00 PM–Overnight: Firing & Stoking Shifts

Tuesday

• 8:00–9:00 AM: Breakfast
• 9:00 AM–TBD: Finish Firing & Initial Cleanup

The exact end time will depend on the progression of the firing.

Saturday, May 22 — Kiln Unload & Cleanup

• 9:00 AM–12:00 PM: Unbrick Kiln Door, Unload Kiln & Begin Cleanup
• 12:00–1:00 PM: Lunch
• 1:00 PM–Completion: Clean Kiln Area, Grind Shelves & Apply Kiln Wash

The workshop concludes once the kiln has been unloaded and the group cleanup is complete.

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View frequently asked questions here!