Wood-fired Kilns
In 2008, Professor Judith Jia and her ceramics class stepped out into the kiln yard with some shovels and dug a hole in the ground. The students filled the pit with their unfired work, laying pots, cups, plates together. Each of these items has to be put a little apart from its neighbor, to allow oxygen to flow and flames and ash to circulate. Sometimes potters use wadding, small balls of refactory clay, or they can use natural materials like seashells to provide these spaces.
Loading the kiln (or pit) is an imprecise art. Pieces may be moved, and then replaced as another object that is bigger or smaller or just seems be a better shape, appears. The goal is to create a stable yet open sturcture. It is like a big game of Jenga, but with breakable objects and it takes skill and experience to properly load a wood-fired kiln. The success can only be known when the firing is over and the unloading begins.