Here, there be dragons… A Peek Inside Wood-Firing at NMC

You may have heard this line before. On old maps, when cartographers didn’t know what lay beyond their borders, they would draw a dragon; something mysterious, fire breathing, and magical, even, existed beyond reach.

 

Well, it turns out NMC has dragons too, and they’re even fire breathing. And just like in the past, this is somewhat uncharted territory.

 

Enter ‘Smaug,’ the name collectively given to the behemoth of a wood-fired kiln by the NMC ceramics studio. Complete with a custom steel chimney damper built by NMC welding students - they even welded on a dragon, and elvish leaves. This November, it was used for the first time during the NMC pottery sale and wood-firing event.

 

Ceramics teacher Laura Korch has over 25 years of experience with the craft. She has a masters degree from Arizona State University, and currently teaches ceramics 1, 2, and sculpture 1. In the past, she has also taught 3D design as well as modern art history. Though she’s been at NMC since 2023, she has been teaching ceramics in general since 2005.

 

“I am passionate about clay and discovered over the years that the medium of clay brings people together to form a bonded community like nothing else I have ever seen. My interest in creating an event with both a wood firing and a pottery sale was to showcase the process of ceramics, the event as a learning tool for the larger community to explore. I was hoping that the excitement of the wood kilns flames and the wondrous transformation from the collaboration of students, faculty, staff, friends and family would also facilitate an interactive experience for all event attendees. I saw the event as a rainbow of clay confetti.”

 

On the difference between a wood-fired kiln and a normal one, Korch said “The kiln differences can first be differentiated by their fuel source although there are many other differences too that separate them. An electric kiln is fueled by electricity. A gas kiln, gas, and a wood kiln is fueled by wood. An outdoor pit firing is also fueled by wood. Electric kilns create an oxidized environment in the firing so if one is wanting bright colors from a glaze, electric kilns help to create that effect.”

 

Regardless of the difference between a wood-fired kiln and an electric one, it certainly feels different: entering the room with Smaug firing was like opening up the door to a sauna; intense, dry heat floods your nose, your face becomes flush, and your winter jacket quickly becomes unnecessary, not to mention the smoke billowing out of the bricks.

 

Sounds intense - and it was. Though it didn’t seem to turn anyone away.

 

 

“Almost every NMC ceramics student participated. Staff and faculty outside of the art department came to stoke the wood kiln and the pottery sale was happily welcomed back by the public. School President, Nick Nissley has attended the wood firing and purchased work from the pottery sale.[1] [2]  We raised $2,280 from pottery sales. All proceeds went to the NMC ceramics  department. We still have so much pottery left for the next sale too! Thanks to students, my lab assistant (Gail Klingelsmith), and faculty who made and donated pottery toward the sale.”[3] [4] 

 

Most of those who visited the studio weren’t ceramicists - they were just interested in the art. Laura believes that everyone has something to gain from practicing ceramics, and can form skills that carry over beyond it, too.

 

“Working with clay is humbling. It challenges students' patience, and once skills and knowledge come together the rewards are very high. Even opening a kiln after it's finished firing feels like a surprise Christmas gift. There are many life skills students take away from learning to work with clay. The assignments are heavy with problem solving, organizing and planning, prioritizing and flexibility-. Students learn collaboration by caring for a shared studio space, as well as, making clay, and loading- unloading kilns together. Working with a ‘grounding’ material like clay is meditative and calming for us; creating feels wonderful,” said Korch.

 

The next NMC wood-firing event will be on Apr. 25, and is open to the public.

 

“All of my life it's been my destiny to work with clay. A mentor with a destiny is inspiring to learn from.”