STUART GAIR
SODA STRATEGIES: Altered Forms & Loading/Firing Techniques
May 3-16, 2026
During this course students will be introduced to numerous ways of throwing and altering forms in anticipation of placing them in a soda kiln.
Topics will also cover slip and clay formulation, developing an individualized voice through form and creating shapes for atmospheric firing.
During the second week of the workshop, participants will partake in a soda firing as well as an experimental shino firing in gas-fueled kilns.
TUITION: USD $2500 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 - Stuart Gair
Sunday, May 3: Welcome Dinner MOKSA Restaurant
Welcome Dinner and slide talk by Stuart Gair.
Monday, May 4: GCAC
Studio orientation.
Demos begin: Throwing basic shapes on the potters wheel and alter in the afternoon
Begin hump mold (folded trays and combined forms)
Lunch - family style in GCAC mezzanine
Tuesday, May 5: GCAC
Demos: Throwing basic shapes on the potters wheel and alter in the afternoon
Continue hump mold
Rasping, paddling, carving darting
Lunch - family style in GCAC mezzanine
Wednesday, May 6: GCAC
Demos: Throwing basic shapes on the potters wheel and alter in the afternoon
Finish and refine hump mold
Discussion about slip and glaze application and formulation
Lunch - family style in GCAC mezzanine
Thursday, May 7: GCAC
Demos: Bisque hump molds
Drawing exercise (charcoal)
Finish first round of pots for soda kiln
Lunch - family style in GCAC mezzanine
Friday, May 8: GCAC
Short presentation and discussion about soda firing approach/schedule/materials/et cetera
Demos: Start new forms - stacked vessels, pouring pots
Lunch - family style in GCAC mezzanine
Saturday, May 9: GCAC
Final moments pre-bisque
Loading Bisque kiln
Demo using hump molds (folded trays and combined forms)
Lunch - family style in GCAC mezzanine
Loading bisque kiln
Sunday, May 10: Anywhere Bali…
FREE DAY!
Monday, May 11: GCAC
Unloading bisque kiln
Glazing/surfacing demonstrations
Glazing works
Lunch - family style in GCAC mezzanine
Tuesday, May 12: GCAC
LOADING SODA KILN
Participation by shift
(Staggered Tours of Ceramic and Design)
Lunch - family style in GCAC mezzanine
Wednesday, May 13: GCAC
SODA FIRING!!!
Participation on shifts
(Participant slide show?)
Lunch - family style in GCAC mezzanine
Thursday, May 14: Excursion day TBD
Kiln Cooling
FULL-day excursion
Friday, May 15: GCAC
Opening the kiln
Packing, photographing, and admiring the results, closing sentiments, workshop concludes by 5 pm
Lunch - family style in GCAC mezzanine
Saturday, May 16:
Departure Day. Studio is closed.
Details of schedule may be subject to change, but overall content will remain constant.