Name: Burnished Pit Fire Pots (Coil + Terra Sigillata)
Start: 2025-09-06T10:00:00-07:00
Location: 109 First Avenue North, Ilwaco, WA, United States, Washington 98624

Burnished Pit Fire Pots (Coil + Terra Sigillata)

Day one - 9/6, 10am-1pm
On day one there will be a short presentation on pit firing effects, methods and coloring strategies. We will coil/pinch build a smooth, sculptural vessel with pit-firing aesthetics in mind. The vessel construction will focus on asymmetry, non-curvilinear forming and surface smoothing/compression.

Day two - 9/7, 10am-1pm
The pieces will be “force-dried” overnight to a leather hard state. We will then explore different burnishing and terra sigillata techniques to achieve a surface that will emphasize the nature of pit firing. (Terra sigillata is a highly refined clay slip with a lustrous, smooth surface, traditionally used in ancient Roman pottery. It's known for creating a polished, almost waterproof surface on pottery)

Pit fire day - 9/13, 12pm-2pm (pit fire prep), 2pm-7pm (pit firing)
Participants do not need to be present on this day to have their piece fired. Those who do attend will be instructed in pre-firing surface treatments like combustible wraps, metallic oxide sprays and foil saggers.