Help Us Build a Soda Kiln at the Community/Residency Studio

Well Traveled Wares PT

Help Us Build a Soda Kiln at the Community/Residency Studio

$5.00 USD
$5.00 USD
Gift: Buy a kiln brick
  • In stock
  • Inventory on the way

We have big plans to build a soda fire gas kiln here next July! What is a soda kiln, and why do we want one?

Atmospherically fired ceramics, such as “soda fired” ceramics, refer to ceramic firing
techniques that utilize an atmosphere of some material (usually soda ash or baking soda) that acts as a melting agent. During the firing, near peak temperatures, sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate are introduced into the hot kiln of wares. This creates an atmosphere of sodium that moves through the kiln with the flame to organically glaze some surfaces of ceramic in the kiln. The results can range from dramatic to subtle depending on a variety of factors.


Atmospheric kiln builder and good friend Chris Pate visited us this summer to help us build a plan for the kiln and price out materials. We'll build the kiln with him. next summer, and host a kiln building and firing workshop to help cover some of the costs of his time and knowledge, but we still need to raise the money for most of the materials. So far we have 500 used, high-refractory kiln bricks, but we need about 1,200 more bricks and other materials. We're still getting materials estimates here, but the brick alone will be about 7,000€ (before tax), we still need to build a platform, and shed to cover it, plus fuel, stilts, shelves, gas tanks, metal and tools, so our current estimate is about 15,000€

 

Once this kiln is built we'll use it for community firings and workshops with local ceramic artists, and for visiting artists. It's not a type of kiln that's common or easily accessible here, and we're excited to have the opportunity to share it with other artists and studios on our community.

 

Goal 15,000€

* This goal takes into account taxes, transaction fees, & exchange rates.

How can you help?

You can use the drop down menu to gift us some cash for materials costs. You can add multiple denominations to your cart to reach your desired contribution. For example: add $5 to your cart, and then add $75 to your cart to send us $80.

 I'll also be posting new one-of-a-kind pieces of art made through artist collaborations for silent auction or as thank you gifts for randomly selected gifters! More details to come on those collaborations. If you're in Portugal keep an eye out for fun events and experiences to help us raise funds.