after a few years, i'm doing a wood firing again. the wood kilns are out in the country at geoff picket's. there are two kilns to load, and i helped for two days loading one of them. it holds 100's of pots, so it takes a long time. geoff knows every square inch of the kiln, and always takes great pains to put each person's pot where it will have the best chance of success.
there are 6-8 potters that all brought pots to fire. it seems like there are so many we will never fit them all in, but they all go in .all the potters will take turns feeding the fire.
we work all day under cover of the kiln shed to protect us from sun and rain. i attach wads on the bottom of each pot to hold it slightly off the kiln shelf. the air smells of honeysuckle and the wind is gently blowing all day. we work at a steady pace.
today i will help put the doors up on the kiln. more on that next week!
photographs and words by rebecca wood