Kiln Yard Participation

HOW TO FIRE:

First and for most, all people are invited to learn how to fire the kilns.

If you are interested in learning the art of kiln firing, your are welcome to come shadow the kiln Master any time.

This is a community based experience, meaning your involvement is key to the process.

There are 2 ways you can participate in a fire at The Kiln Yard.

You can rent the whole kiln, or rent a square foot.

In order to rent the whole kiln, please email us to get your fire on the calander. When you rent the whole kiln, you are required to participate in the firing. This includes loading the kiln, being present to stoke the fire or spray the soda and be present for the kiln clean up.

You can buy space by the square foot. There are 2 tiers of buying into the kiln, one is as an attendant and one a participant. An attendant agrees to be present on the day of the fire to assist in firing the kiln and adding the soda, please see kiln master for more details.

A participant has works in the kiln, they participate in loading and kiln clean up but are not required to be present the day of the fire.

Required reading:

The time frame of a kiln fire is one week from Saturday at 12 (loading)- Saturday 12 (unload) the day of the fire will be Sunday following the loading. In the event of illness, or inclimate weather, a fire may be delayed and is at the discretion of the kiln master.

All participants agree to be present and assisting in loading and the unloading/ clean up of the kilns. With no exception, so please plan accordingly.

Loading includes wading your own work and helping the kiln master load works into the kiln. Dropping works off the leaving is not appropriate unless cleared by the kiln master. Loading can last 2-3 hours depending.

The clean up day. Once all works are safely packed away, clean up goes quickly, averaging 30 -45 minutes. The kiln master will divide the work among the participant for efficiency. Please bring your own PPE for use on site: dust masks, ear protection, safety glasses and gloves. Learning how to care for the equipment that is so essential to being able to fire is essential and folks should take pride in their work to help ensure more fires to come!

Glaze and slips are not included in the square footage. Access to glazes can be purchased though open studio times at the St johns clay collective, via punch card or day pass. Day pass participants should pack out their ware until loading time.

How does the communication flow?

On the day of loading, phone contacts will be collected and a text thread established. The kiln master will use this thread to communicate with the group throughout the course of the fire, and communicate for help if its needed. After the kiln fires there is a minimum of 3 days required cool down before the kiln will be unloaded. It’s typical that the unload will happen 1 week from time of loading.

What should go in the kiln?

If this is a soda fire, no red or colored clay should go into the kiln. Here’s why; the soda reacts with iron in red clay causing and excessive fluxing making works bend and bloat in unpredictable ways. Likewise, heavy iron bearing glazes may run with excess as they interact with the soda in the atmosphere, so be warned.

In a Soda fire it’s common to have more bare clay to let the soda glaze for you. However, liner glazes is recommended as well at some kiln of glaze, wash or flashing slip is encouraged.

Glaze vs. flashing slip

Glaze has glass formers in the contents to coat ware. Flashing slip it a clay slurry with no glass former. The flashing, describes the color response taking place on the ware, the color is derived from the close interaction of heat and flame weaving between and around the ware. So placement in the kiln matters as a result particularly where flashing slip is concerned.

At what temperature can soda firing happen?

The world of soda firing is not exclusively the realm of high fire aka Cone 10. In fact, it has been a popular course to take soda firing lower to midrange where you may have a larger color range and save on time and fuel by taking the pots to lower temperatures. Soda ash can vaporize at 1564 degrees, that’s cone 013! Its catching on and low fire folks are starting to include soda in their repertoire. It is a myth that soda fire has to be high fire only. Likewise any one kiln is able to do both low and high fire, but not all are best suited for high fire or soda, that is a special kiln requirement.

Kiln Yard

Participation Waiver

Waiver: The kiln yard is part of a larger maker community Green Anchors. As part of this community you must agree to the following…

I acknowledge that this community event carries with it the potential for serious injury and property loss. The risks include but are not limited to: actions of other people including, but not limited to, participants, volunteers, event officials, event monitors and/or producers of the event; lack of hydration, weather, and/or other natural conditions.

I hereby assume all the risks of participating in this event.

I certify that I am physically fit, have sufficiently trained for participation in this event and have not been advised otherwise by a qualified medical person.

I acknowledge that this Accident Waiver and Release of Liability (AWRL) form will be used by Green Anchors and St. Johns Clay Collective in which I may participate, and it will govern my actions and responsibilities at events.

In consideration of permitting me to participate in this event, I hereby take action for myself, my executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin, successors, and assigns as follows: (A) Waive, release, and discharge from any and all liability for my death, disability personal injury, property damage, property theft or actions of any kind which

may hereafter accrue to me or my traveling to and from this event, THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES OR PERSONS: Green Anchors and St. Johns Clay Collective

and their directors, officers, employees, volunteers, representatives and agents, the event sponsors and event volunteers, (B) indemnify and hold harmless all entities or persons mentioned in this paragraph from any and all liabilities or claims made by other individuals or entities as a result of my actions during this event.

I hereby consent to receive medical treatment that may be deemed advisable in the event of injury, accident, and/or illness during this event.

I understand that at this event or related activities I may be photographed. I agree to allow my photo, video, or film likeness to be used for any legitimate purpose by the event holders, producers, sponsors, organizers, and/or assigns.

This AWRL shall be construed broadly to provide a release and waiver to the maximum extent permissible under the applicable law.

I hereby certify that I have read this document and I understand its content.

First name

Last name

Phone

I declare that the info I’ve provided is accurate and complete.

Kiln Yard Participation

Required reading:

Kiln Yard

Participation Waiver

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