Build and Burn Kiln
Paper kiln building participatory workshop for Ceramics Ireland Festival. Thomastown, Kilkenny, Ireland. July 2018.
This event involved the collaborative construction of a paper kiln inspired by the traditional bottle kilns of Stoke-on-Trent. Participants were attendees of the festival who dropped in and out of the workshop throughout the day, staying for as long as they liked.
Construction of the kiln included willow structure covered in slip covered magazine pages. The kiln was embellished further using found objects. It was then filled with sawdust, paper, kindling, oxides, salt, and other combustibles. Participants were invited to bring a small bisque fired piece to be included in the firing. The purpose of the workshop was to create a space for hands-on making at an event that predominately focusses on attending talks, an ice breaker activity for meeting other attendees, and a route into alternative firing techniques for participants who are unfamiliar with smoke firing and backyard kiln building.
The Kiln was lit on the second day and allowed to burn throughout, creating a space for gathering and conversations about clay, ceramic process, and information sharing.