Crescendo of Fire
with Hillary Kane
November 9-23, 2025
Awakening the spirit of communion with raw elements, these two weeks promise to be an experience of personal metamorphosis akin to the alchemical transformation the ceramic wares will undergo during their journey through the fire. Our delight in the spontaneous and unpredictable beauty will propel our exploration of natural glaze effects of atmospheric wood-firing in Gaya Ceramic Art Center’s “Gayagama”. Founder/Woodfirer, Hillary Kane, will share expansively of her techniques and accumulated knowledge of the particularity of anagama firing on the tropical volcanic island of Bali.
The workshop will immerse immediately in the process of making, wherein participants will have an opportunity to experience a variety of clay bodies and slips, surface texture, and vessel shape as design factors influencing the subtle and dramatic effects of a natural ash surface. Collectively, the kiln will be loaded “green” and fired for an intense 50+ hours. Two further days of cooling will allow us a pause for reflection and recuperation. Finally, the unloading: when all will be revealed and we will behold the full process of transmutation, upon our wares and upon ourselves.
TUITION: USD $2200 inclusive of all studio materials, glazes and firings, catered lunches, welcome dinner, and excursions around the island. We will assist in making recommendations for bookings for nearby hotels, bungalows or home-stays in convenient proximity to Gaya studio (accommodation is not included in tuition).
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE - Crescendo of Fire
Sunday, November 9 : Welcome Dinner
6:00pm Welcome dinner. A relaxed evening introduction: to Balinese cuisine, to one another and to the program ahead. Dessert will be served with a slide talk given by Hillary about her own evolution as a wood-firer.
Monday, November 10 : Studio, Kiln, Clay
A morning of introduction: to the studio in general and to the Gaya anagama specifically. We will orient the outset of our own making by analyzing a variety of finished Gayagama works, paying particular attention to the many important variables, including clay bodies, slips, brushwork, positioning in the kiln, tumble stacking and decorative
use of wadding.
12:30 Lunch family style
Clay demos: beginning with larger works (fast coil built pieces or sectional thrown forms)
Hands in Clay: individual work time begins!
Tuesday, November 11 : Texture for Flame
Clay demo: (morning) textures for wood fire using found and simply wrought tools. Kurinuki-style sculpture, hand-built tea bowls, vase forms, and boxes. Throwing parts for teapots and lidded vessels.
12:30 Lunch family style
Individual working time continues.
Wednesday, November 12 : Flat Faces & Forms for Fit
Clay Demos: thrown bowl and hand-built slab forms good for stacking within one another or honed with loading in mind; the benefit of series. Tall forms that follow “what’s thin get’s in” philosophy. Sculptural forms suitable for trough and firebox areas.
12:30 Lunch family style
Individual working time continues.
Thursday, November 13 : Stacks, Series & Littles
Clay demos: an assortment of faster thrown and hand-built forms from tea bowls, mugs, tumblers to sake cups
and other sippers.
12:30 Lunch family style
Participants continue full-throttle finishing clayworks: trimming, assembling, surfacing for drying time.
Friday, November 14 : Brushstrokes and Slip
Final finishing of pieces for firing. Then group time to undertake together the decorating of our anagama pieces with slips, stains and glazes using handmade brushes
12:30 Lunch family style
**Setting out the wares for loading: by the day’s end, all wares will be brought kilnside, ready to begin pondering the loading.
Saturday, November 15 : Initiating the Stack
Morning : Working in shifts, we begin the slow and particular process of loading the Gayagama. Everyone will have an opportunity to assist in preparing various types of wadding, placing works, judging flame flow, and engaging in kiln yoga!
12:30 Lunch family style
Afternoon : Free time!
Evening : “FIRE Ceremony and wood-fired pizzas” Enjoy a stimulating, cleansing “Puja” (Hindu fire-ceremony) at the home of Hillary Kane. Followed by a fitting evening of stoking the wood-fired pizza-oven. Pizza-making participation required!
Sunday, November 16 : Loading the Dragon
Full day of measured loading. Participants will be assigned shifts so as to be kept busy. Everyone will have a chance to place works, make wadding, and engage in specific decisions about the loading of their own wares.
12:30 Lunch family style
Monday, November 17 : Conclude Loading
Loading continues until mid-afternoon, concluding in the fire box stack. Door bricking, sealing and preparation for the external candle fire.
Tours of Gaya Ceramic & Design production studio will be scheduled in 2 groups.
12:30 Lunch family style
Monday evening (5pm): Lighting Ceremony with blessings by Ibu Puja and Pak Wayan. Candling begins, along with first all-night firing shift.
Tuesday, November 18: FIRING
Low-mid range temperatures. Participants rotate on 6-hr. shifts through day and night. Transport and meals will be organized accordingly.
12:30 Lunch family style
Wednesday, November 19 : FIRING
Sustained high temperatures, working back side stoke ports, final peak temperature, and dramatic reduction cooling.
12:30 Lunch family style
Thursday, November 20 : R&R DAY - FREE!
(Free day)
Friday, November 21: Excursion Day
A visit to a local sculptor’s extraordinary interpretation of wood carving.
For lunch and a relaxing afternoon, an unparalleled experience of Bali’s most exquisite spring-fed terraced bathing
pools on the banks of the Ayung River. Bathing costume and change of clothing necessary.
Saturday, November 22: Unloading and Post-firing Finish
A slow and considered unload (this is when we have everything to learn!)
Afternoon spent discussing and implementing a variety of post-firing clean-up and finishing techniques.
Sunday, November 23: Exhibiting Our Treasures
A concluding discussion of the entire experience. Any last cleaning/polishing. Photographing works. Then packing works to go (packing materials provided).
Final lunch together before departure.
**Details of schedule may be subject to change, but overall content will remain constant.