Woodfire NC 2025 - Pre-Conference Firings
Sustain: Woodfire NC Pre-Conference takes place May 17-21, 2025 | Main Conference takes place May 22-25, 2025
See below for information on pre-conference firings in Seagrove, NC. Pre-Conference attendees may attend all firings, but are asked to request only two to include their work in. Please review the following information carefully before making your selection. We will do our best to include you in your selected kilns/firings. We will reach out prior to the event to coordinate details with you. Make your selection during registration - Register HERE.
*All details are subject to change prior to the event*
Travis Owens of Jugtown
Jugtown will fire their Groundhog Kiln for the pre-conference. This kiln will take around 5-6 hours to load and the firing will last around 16-17 hours. We will salt the kiln lightly at the end, as most of the pots will be glazed. Jugtown will offer a few glazes for participants to choose from. A short window for glazing your pots will be scheduled in the morning before kiln loading.
We will accept pots on Sunday, May 18, load on Monday, May 19 and fire on Tuesday, May 20.
We can accommodate 6 participants. Each participant can send three pots; two mug sized pieces and one larger piece that can be up to 8” tall.
Pieces should be bisque fired before arriving at Jugtown, and made of a clay that can take cone 9-11.
Kate Waltman of The Triangle Studio
Accept Pots, sign-up for shifts on Saturday, May 17. Accept pots, sign up for shifts, loading, and overnight candle preheat Sunday, May 18.
Firing starts Monday, May 19 night with a gentile pre-heat, Tuesday preheat continues, Tuesday raising temperature, complete firing with salting Wednesday evening.
Kiln Description: Flame shaped anagama-style kiln, fired for ash and salt effect, well suited for slipware
2-3 people per shift, 6 hour shifts
6 pots per person, - 12” high or less
8 participants with pots maximum, no requirement to put pots in the kiln to participate and everyone is invited to visit during the firing.
Cone 9-13 clay, no runny glazes, no glazes provided
Anne Pärtna of Blue Hen Pottery
Kiln Description: Firing in Bourry-box kiln for about 24 hours with an overnight shut down. Small amount of salt will be used at the end of firing.
May 18: last day to accept pots. Possibility to glaze pots with limited glaze options at Blue Hen. Wadding will be provided.
May 19: loading the kiln, preheat with wood until 9pm
May 20: Firing 6am - until finished (about 11pm)
Must be cone 10 clay, must be bisque
Up to 10 participants. 5 pieces max. No plates over 11” please. Max height 12”.
Michael & Levi Mahan at From the Ground Up Pottery
Saturday May 17th & Sunday May 18th, to accept pots and sign up for shifts
Loading: Monday, May 19th
Firing: Tuesday, May 20th – Wednesday, May 21th
Kiln Description: Firing in a Manabigama kiln, woodfired for 36 hours, for ash and flashing effects
8 participants, 2 pieces per person - no plates, 12” high or less
Must be cone 10 clay
Takuro & Hitomi Shibata of Studio Touya
Sunday, May 18th: Accepting pots
Monday, May 19th: Loading/ Pre-heating
Tuesday, May 20th: Firing
Wednesday May 21st: Open House
Kiln Description: During the pre-conference, we will fire the salt chamber of our wood kiln. The salt chamber is designed to operate independently and has been fired 50 times since its construction in 2009. It is about 50 cubic feet of stacking space. The firing process will last between 24 to 36 hours. We plan to add a small amount of salt towards the end of the firing.
6 participants, 3 pieces per person, no plates, 12" high or less
Must be cone 10+ clay, must be bisque
Fred Johnston of Johnston & Gentithes
Sunday, May 18th, last day to accept pots
Loading: Tuesday May 20th
Firing: Wednesday May 21st
Kiln Description: Trench kiln used to produce smoke and wood trace elements effects similar to those produced by indigenous peoples
3 pieces per person - 12 ins or less, no plates
You do not have to have pots in the kiln to participate in the firing
Raku clay is best suited for this kind of firing