Name: Wild Clay & Pit Firing with Kyle Bird
Start: 2026-04-22T17:30:00-05:00
End: 2026-04-24T12:00:00-05:00
Location: Wild Arts Learning

Kyle Bird of Craftwork Ceramics will guide this information packed, hands-on workshop.
Class schedule:
Wednesday 5:30-7:30pm
Friday evening will be about making pottery using traditional techniques. Participants will learn how to create a simple dish pot (known as a “puki”) using the slab and coil-and-scrape methods. We will create at least one pot, though all are welcome to make a second if they choose.
We will also discuss the history of pottery and related technologies. After this, the pots will spend the next day drying out in order to be fired on Sunday.
Thursday 9:00 - 3:30 (with a lunch break)
Saturday will be about gathering and processing wild clays. We will learn where to look for sources of clay, and how to perform simple field tests to determine the suitability of the clay. We will also discuss where to find and harvest other useful ingredients such as temper and pigments.
Our harvested clay will be taken back to the workspace where we will learn how to process it into a workable clay body. The clay that the we process this day will be for participants to take home for future use.
We will conclude by decorating our pots formed on day one, learning how to apply decorative slips, washes, and paints. After decoration, the pots will be completely dried out.
Friday 9:00 - 12:00 pm
Sunday will be about pottery firing. We will prepare our pots by preheating them around a campfire, and discuss pottery firing science. We will fire the pots using a quick and simple firing called a surface firing, and once the fire cools down, students will be able to take home and use their fired ceramic piece. Participants will receive a small bag of clay (from day two) and a hand-out outlining all the steps covered.
Ages 13+ are welcome if accompanied by a parent, guardian, or responsible adult
Materials + Snacks + Drinks provided
This workshop is for adults and hosted at the Wild Arts Learning Center in Springfield, MO. For locals: just out east Sunshine and around the bend from Turner's Station off J Hwy. The address and directions are emailed upon booking.