Ceramics Firing
Professor Calisch's Art 123 class prepares for three different types of
outdoor ceramic firing. Each student chose among 16 different Pueblo
communities and researched the role of ceramics in those communities.
Once the student had chosen a community, he then made ceramic pieces
using the same techniques, and the students were expected to know the
ceramic style, techniques used, function, decoration patterns, and scale
of the work they created.
Senior art major Nick Roudebush explains one of the three firing
techniques — a barrel firing.
Roudebush shows the potential results of firing with different
"treatments" such as salt, dog food, leaves, and Miracle Gro -- even a
very special nickel.
Students prepare their pieces for the barrel firing.
Professor Calisch works with students to lay the foundation in the pit
before firing the pieces.
Adding more wood to the foundation.
One pit full of pieces is ready to be covered.
The pieces need to be covered by metal first...
Then students pile on the cow dung...
Once the pieces are in place, the firing process begins.
It is important to keep the fires bruning at a very high temperature.
Click here
to see photos from after the firing.