Woodfire Workshops

Pre-NCECA WOODFIRING WORKSHOP with Bruce Dehnert
at the South Jersey Wood Fire Kiln

Make the 2010 Philadelphia NCECA extra-special by participating in what has become a preconference tradition of woodfiring. This workshop will offer participants the opportunity to glaze, load, and fire the Perkins Center /Apple Farm’s noborigama-style kiln with its large wood /directional chamber and two large catenary chambers. The kiln is thirty minutes from Philadelphia in the picturesque farmland of Salem County in southern New Jersey.

This workshop will be led by Bruce Dehnert, Head of Ceramics at Peters Valley Craft Center. Preparing for the firing, his thoughts are, “We will approach the firing with an enthusiasm for deep reduction colors and a 24hour+ firing cycle. As the back chamber of this beautiful kiln is a salt chamber, participants will have the opportunity to experience salt firing as well.

Enrollment is limited as to avail participants more individual attention and exchange, ample quantity of work getting into the kiln, and a more memorable experience for this Pre-NCECA happening! 

Each participant is allotted 4.5 cubic feet for their work. With smaller work, this could be as many as 20-30 pieces while with large work this could be only a few.  To help visualize how much space this is, we load the kiln using  12” x 24” shelves—4.5 cubic feet is the equivalent of two shelves (24” x24”) and a 9” high and a 4.5” high shelf.   All work must be bisque fired before arriving, and must be constructed from either stoneware or porcelain capable of reaching cone 10 or higher. So get in gear and join us for a fiery time, then soak in the sights, sounds, and dynamism that promises to be the Philadelphia NCECA.

Woodfire withdrawals can be made up to 6 weeks before the date of the woodfire.  An administrative fee $20 will be applied to every withdrawal and the remainder of the tuition will be refunded.  No refunds will be made thereafter.

additional details:
a) glazes will be provided and we are making time available Friday afternoon March 26 (1to 5 pm), if you would like to come to Perkins Center /Moorestown to glaze prior to Saturday morning—please let me know if you will be coming on Friday-thanks.

b) The glazes will be transported down to Appel Farm /wood kiln site on Saturday morning and available for glazing in the morning if you can’t make Friday afternoon, which is fine.

c) Wadding and loading to follow in the late morning and afternoon.

d) Kiln firing to start immediately and will be broken out into firing shifts—firing shifts will be worked out Saturday morning when everyone is together, but bring your preferences.

e) Kiln unloading on Wednesday, March 31, 2-5pm—this way people can register for NCECA conference in the morning, the kiln can cool, we can unload in the afternoon and than return for evening opening events at NCECA.

Items to bring—heavy duty leather gloves—layers of clothing-never know about the weather—cotton is better than synthetics---long sleeves over short sleeves, regardless of temp—dust mask if you have one