Wood Kiln Fired Pottery

 Wood firing draws the local clay community together, with all of it's wood preparation. We load the kiln and fire hundreds of pots, for three to five days. No two are ever the same, since the wood ash, fire and kiln create the spectacular surfaces. This aesthetic has a very earthy feel, and the rustic pots slowly reveal themselves over time. They are treasures that tell a story of the artist, firing process, time and place. I create mostly functional pieces, for enhancing the daily ritual of eating. I hope that they will bring joy, awareness, creativity and peace to the participant.
I prefer mixing up my own wood fire clay bodies. It allows me to experiment with ingredients, personalize my work, and keeps my pottery open to the unexpected. I always have several different types of clays loaded in the kiln per firing, to take advantage of different kiln zone effects. Flashing slips, wad marks and shells are also important design elements to consider when creating and firing the pottery.
In 2009, I completed the construction of my Manabigama "Tater" Kiln. Since then, many local potters/friends have been helping out with work, cutting wood and firing pottery. We also enjoy many long, sleepless nights under the starry New Mexico sky.