Introduction to Soda Firing Workshop #1

Registration for this workshop is limited to those who are registered for a Fall 2024 course at the Ceramics Program, Office to the Arts at Harvard. 
In this intensive, multi-session workshop, students will first attend an orientation session with instructor Tom Hubbard where an overview of soda firing will be provided, as well as instruction on preparing the ceramic surface for this unique kind of firings with specialized slips for green-ware and glazes for bisque-ware. At the orientation, students will sign up for one 2-hour slot to experience preparing and loading work into the kiln. On firing day, all students are invited to attend all, or part, of the firing. Finally, students will be expected to attend the unloading of the kiln to see the results and participate in clean-up of the kiln.

Participation Requirements:

You must participate in at least one of the two loading sessions AND the unload/cleanup session to take this Soda Firing Workshop. Please check your schedule carefully before registering to ensure you can fulfill these requirements.
 

Space Limitations:

While we make every effort to accommodate a variety of work by each participant in the workshop, the size of the kiln limits what can be fired. We cannot guarantee that every piece you produce for the workshop will be included in the firing.

Workshop 1 Schedule

Friday, September 13: Orientation, 10:00 - 11:00am

Tuesday, September 17: Glazes, Slips & Wadding, 1:00 - 2:00pm

Monday, October 7: Load, 10:00am - 1:00pm

Tuesday, October 8: Load, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Wednesday, October 9: Fire

Friday, October 11: Unload/Cleanup, 11:00am - 1:00pm

WHAT MAKES SODA FIRING SO DIFFERENT?

Soda firing is similar to the cone 10 reduction firing, but with these differences. 

• The outside of the piece does not need to be glazed since the soda affect will create a finished surface without glazing.
• The soda ash will create more melting with a glaze on the outside surface, which will make some glazes more fluid causing them to run if the glaze is applied too thick.
• Not all high fire reduction glazes are suitable for soda firing.
• Since the bottoms of pieces fired in the soda kiln are wadded with a mixture of clay and alumina hydrate, more space needs to be left between the lower edge of the outside glazed area and the bottom of the piece.
• It’s a requirement to participate in either the loading or unloading and cleanup of the soda kiln if work is fired in the soda kiln.

Registration for this workshop is limited to those who are registered for a Fall 2024 course at the Ceramics Program, Office to the Arts at Harvard. Cost: $125; Free for Harvard College Undergraduates. Registration will open on Wednesday, August 21 at 10:00am. A link to register for these workshops will be sent by email to those enrolled in a Fall 2024 course.