Pit fire experiment #1: the whole premise of this time together in Blacksburg was that @_boxtire_ and @alexandrabarao and I would make pots in order to pit fire them, in a more “primitive” manner that we are accustomed to. At times daunting when you are really figuring it out as you go, despite all the research and thinking you may have done! Rather than dig a concave pit, we opted to use the fire ring that was already on the property, except we altered it to have three equidistant “stoking” holes. We were lucky to find local hay and wood from a nearby tree farm, and a bag of sawdust as our fuels. We first made a little fire in the pit to dry out the damp ground. We then carefully stacked bone dry greenware with hay and sawdust and twigs interlaced in every possible gap, and proceeded to starting a ring of fire around the pots which we very gradually built up to allow the pots to heat up without exploding. Eventually the fire became bigger and the embers accumulated and the flame started to lick the pots directly, as we sporadically threw in hay, sawdust, salt, and magical cookie dust. Later on the firing culminated to a raging fire with wood being carefully laid atop the pots and embers covering the stack completely. Dang it was super hot as you are way more exposed to the flames than with a wood kiln, even though this here is considered “low fire”. We quickly started protecting ourselves with long sleeved shirts, gloves and scarves. We then let the wood consume itself a bit before smothering the whole thing with a layer of sawdust, followed by a thick layer of wet hay, and then a wet blanket to cut out even more oxygen, as a reduced atmosphere in the pit should give us more interesting effects on the ware. The very last video shows a cross section of this strata. We felt pretty good about this first pit firing which was a huge learning experience and took about 7-8 hours, all abundant with a spirit of curiosity, and joy. Will share the results soon! Thanks Blacksburg and the rug boys for allowing us to try this out. #dang #cachauffemarcel #cestchaud #pitfiredpottery #pitfire #pottery #ceramics #lowfire #hay #haynowyoureanallstar #fire #ibestoking #wetblanket (at Blacksburg, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1cY7z0glDE/?igshid=1ddtn2ahq4c3g

Pit fire experiment #1: the whole premise of this time together in Blacksburg was that @_boxtire_ and @alexandrabarao and I would make pots in order to pit fire them, in a more “primitive” manner that we are accustomed to. At times daunting when you are really figuring it out as you go, despite all the research and thinking you may have done! Rather than dig a concave pit, we opted to use the fire ring that was already on the property, except we altered it to have three equidistant “stoking” holes. We were lucky to find local hay and wood from a nearby tree farm, and a bag of sawdust as our fuels. We first made a little fire in the pit to dry out the damp ground. We then carefully stacked bone dry greenware with hay and sawdust and twigs interlaced in every possible gap, and proceeded to starting a ring of fire around the pots which we very gradually built up to allow the pots to heat up without exploding. Eventually the fire became bigger and the ambers accumulated and the flame started to lick the pots directly, as we sporadically threw in hay, sawdust, salt, and magical cookie dust. Later on the firing culminated to a raging fire with wood being carefully laid atop the pots and ambers covering the stack completely. Dang it was super hot as you are way more exposed to the flames than with a wood kiln, even though this here is considered “low fire”. We quickly started protecting ourselves with long sleeved shirts, gloves and scarves. We then let the wood consume itself a bit before smothering the whole thing with a layer of sawdust, followed by a thick layer of wet hay, and then a wet blanket to cut out even more oxygen, as a reduced atmosphere in the pit should give us more interesting effects on the ware. The very last video shows a cross section of this strata. We felt pretty good about this first pit firing which was a huge learning experience and took about 7-8 hours. Will share the results soon! Thanks Blacksburg and the rug boys for allowing us to try this out. #dang #cachauffemarcel #cestchaud #pitfiredpottery #pitfire #pottery #ceramics #lowfire #hay #haynowyoureanallstar #fire #ibestoking #wetblanket (at Blacksburg, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1bj5eijVAd/?igshid=1a74x6wybcpkw

Had a really great unloading day last week at Monocacy River Pottery... phenomenal firing with really great results. Everybody was a great sport as we unloaded the kiln and cleaned up in the humid heat. After unbecoming the doors and taking pictures of the stack we start taking pots out it of the kiln as we make a chain of pots out to the tables. Then the shelves and posts can be taken out, and wads thrown in dedicated buckets. Cleaning is a big part of the post wood-during process as posts and shelves must be thoroughly scraped due to the buildup of a vitrified veil the ash produces all over, and any clinging wad chunks. Then the shelves get a fresh coat of kiln wash which will protect them in the next firing... all of this under the many fans we brought to combat the oppressive heat, and punctuates by many water breaks. It’s hard work but I enjoy the group effort that it takes along with the shared enjoyment of discovering and appreciating all the new work. Got some really great pieces in this firing some of which will be featured and on sale tomorrow at the Antique Row Festival, thanks @dearglobecoffee Thanks to Jim, @msartbabe90 @handbuiltceramics @b.d.grow @yvettejacobs @epicurianjen and all the wonderful potters who participated #cestchaud #pottery #ceramics #noborigama #kiln #woodfiredceramics #woodfired #poterie #çachauffemarcel #hothothot #datash #teamwork (at Monocacy River Pottery) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0bcHEJgghZ/?igshid=ni9kt69dhumm

Friday part one: I spent most of my day in Boisbelle at Hervé Rousseau’s and Isabelle Pammachius’ firing for probably my most exciting day in La Borne so far! Arrived there with @annemariekelecom to find the team doing a “palier”, meaning the first chamber had reached temperature and was sealed up, and the second chamber reached temperature fairly quickly so they were stocking it lightly at longer intervals just to maintain temperature. Pictured is Ania Miadzvedzeva feeding the second chamber, and hervé looking for the cones. Later they started adding charcoal which can help attain certain effects by building a deeper coal bed onto the pieces without needing to burn tons more wood. After this some wood was added which created an impressive amount of smoke and fire. Very impressed by this stellar team of experienced woodfire potters! I was invited for lunch by fellow Americans I met earlier in the week and made friends with @bethbolglastudio and her husband Jack. It’s not a coincidence we met here! #lesgrandsfeux #laborne #noborigama #cestchaud #anagama #ceramics #kiln #teamwork #pottery #poterie #woodfired #stoked #wow @herverousseau.boisbelle (at Henrichemont) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpzFkGtA3XN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14e79ukzmrm3w

Wednesday: after the night shift I was able to take a hour and half nap in an adorable mini house in Hervé Rousseau’s and Isabelle Pammachius’ garden, and woke up to finally be able to see their garden in the daylight and the surrounding fields. Some friends were in the fields to say good morning! Hervé dropped me off quickly at my Airbnb in henrichemont (5km from La Borne) where I had to meet the owner to give back the key. After this I decided to try to hitchhike to La Borne to them try to to hitchhike to Neuvy-Deux-Clochers (a bit further and more isolated) to Claire Linard’s studio ... I didn’t even put my thumb out when David Whitehead saw me and drove me the whole way there! The studio building there was built by Claire father Christophe Linard and is absolutely amazing. There were two demonstrations: Jacques Laroussinie who is a wonderful character and builds “constructions” out of slabs which he rolls with sands from various places to give effects on the wood-fires clay. Then Petra von Heesbeen had a huge crowd and showed the making and decoration of a teapot. Meanwhile outside Claire’s husband was firing a “Feller” kiln. I also met a couple from Brooklyn that I made friends with. Back in La Borne the firing of the Gallo-Roman kiln continued. Discoveries every day! #noborigama #laborne #pottery #ceramics #cestchaud #pottersunite #poterie #woodfired #kilns #kiln #fourfeller #heyisthereakilnaroundhere? #lesgrandsfeux #discoveries (at Centre, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpqOTO6goZV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1a6sl1085iaqm

Please do before it’s too late !! #cestchaud #sexifytheclimate #delamarcheàlappel #lesgrandsvoisins #paris https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo9zVJ-BjvA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=t8vj8etx9xkb

Have a great show! #jain #jainasolo #congo #makeba #dynabeat #comejain #zanaka #souldier #popfrançaise #popmontreal #jazzmtl #jazzfest #malagasy #taratata #jainism #itshot #cestchaud #jeudi #spicy #épicée #4thofjuly #cuisineindienne #vegetarian #veganmontreal #montréal #montreal #vraithali #1409stmarc #fakfakethalis (at Thali Cuisine Indienne)

Ratatouille #supper #vegan #cestchaud #noeggplants (at Montreal, Quebec)