ANAGAMA DUET:
Complimentary Perspectives on Making and Firing
with Logan Wannamaker & Hillary Kane
April 14-28, 2024
Friends from the outset of their respective lives as wood-firers, Logan Wannamaker (Taos, NM, USA) and Hillary Kane (Bali, INDO/Boston, MA, USA) join in a two-week conversation about everything clay, kilns, ash and flame. In the first week, their daily dialogue will take the form of complimentary demonstrations as a sort of back and forth sharing of techniques, comparing and contrasting approaches in making both functional and sculptural wares for the anagama, as well as a discussion about inspiration and evolution in their practices over time. As the emphasis of the workshop will be on the “skin” of bare clay, rather than a reliance on glazes, special attention will be paid to a conversation about the development and exploration of clay bodies, additives to clays and searching for materials in the wild. Participants can expect to be immersed diversely in throwing on the pottery wheel, hand-building with slabs or solid blocks, and techniques both rough and refined. Week two will focus on schemas for loading and approaches to firing: comparative and cooperative, and will require the active involvement of everyone. The Gayagama will be loaded for just over two days with our raw wares and fired for approximately 50 hours. A ritual fire ceremony prior and water cleansing following will harmonize this anagama duet within the symphony of the surrounding Balinese culture, landscape and cuisine.
Open to all levels of experience.
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 - ANAGAMA DUET: complimentary perspectives on making and firing
14 April: Sunday evening Welcome Dinner MOKSA Restaurant
A relaxed evening introduction: to Balinese cuisine, to the stunning backdrop of the island topography, to one another and to the program ahead. Dessert will be served with a slideshow given by both Logan & Hillary, followed by a review of the workshop schedule and a general fanning of the fires of enthusiasm!
15 April: Monday Studio, Kiln, Clay GCAC
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.
Clay demos: beginning with larger works (fast coil built pieces or sectional thrown forms)
Hands in Clay: individual work time begins!
16 April: Tuesday Texture for Flame GCAC
Clay demo: (morning) textures for wood fire using found and simply wrought tools, as well as added inclusions to clay bodies. Kurinuki-style sculpture, hand-built tea bowls, vase forms, and boxes, using wire to facet and tear. Chattering and orientation of work to flame. 2 dimensional work-placement and hanging.
Individual working time continues.
17 April: Wednesday Flat Faces & Forms for Fit GCAC
Clay Demos: Slab constructions, flat and 3D. Tall forms that follow “what’s thin get’s in” philosophy.
Sculptural forms suitable for trough and firebox areas.
Individual working time continues.
18 April: Thursday Stacks, Series & Littles GCAC
Clay demos: thrown bowl and hand-built slab forms good for stacking within one another (upside down or on edge) with loading in mind; the benefit of series, upside down plates and bowls, vases for under bowls, belt buckles and bolos, chopstick rests as filler. An assortment of functional faster thrown and hand-built forms from tea bowls, mugs, tumblers to sake cups and other sippers. A discussion about evolution of one’s work over time and making pieces that result in highest gratification.
Afternoon: Participants continue full-throttle finishing clayworks: trimming, assembling, surfacing for drying time.
19 April: Friday Brushstrokes and Slip GCAC
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: dipping in slip, pop slipping, orientation, suits suitable for upside down stacking, decorating 2-dimensional work with inclusions in slips.
**Setting out the wares for loading: by the day’s end, all wares will be brought kiln side, ready to begin pondering the loading.
20 April: Saturday Initiating the Stack GCAC
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, and learning about considerations in loading: shadow wadding, wadding sizes for weight of work, avoiding warping and engaging in kiln yoga!
Afternoon: free time
Saturday evening : FIRE Ceremony and wood-fired pizzas Kasa Kembar. 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!
21 April: Sunday Loading the Dragon GCAC
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.
22 April: Monday Conclude Loading GCAC
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.
Sunday evening (5pm): Lighting Ceremony with blessings by Ibu Puja and Pak Wayan
Candling begins, along with first all-night firing shift.
23 April: Tuesday FIRING GCAC
Low-mid range temperatures. Participants rotate on 6-hr. shifts through day and night. Transport and meals will be organized accordingly.
24 April: Wednesday FIRING GCAC
Sustained high temperatures, working back side stoke ports, final peak temperature, and dramatic reduction cooling.
25 April: Thursday R&R DAY - FREE! Anywhere Bali...
26 April: Friday Excursion Day BAMBU INDAH
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.
27 April: Saturday Unloading and Post-firing Finish GCAC
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.
28 April: Sunday Exhibiting Our Treasures GCAC
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.