The International Ceramics Festival has a long history of showcasing the most unusual methods of firing pots – including ice kilns, car kilns and potato kilns! The 2015 festival, which takes place in Aberystwyth from 3-5 July, is no exception, with traditional Japanese kilns, a sculptural recycled kiln, pizza oven, and a giant ‘birthing kiln’ on offer to enthral the hundreds of festival attenders. In addition this year there are also opportunities for adults to participate in special workshops linked in to the fascinating processes of firing.
Gas Kimishima is a specialist in anagama kilns, a Japanese term meaning ‘cave kiln’. He is offering a unique opportunity in the UK to learn how to build a mini anagama kiln. “I have designed a mini-anagama, one of the smallest, but still serious and proper anagama. I will be building it for all wood-fire enthusiasts. The objective of my workshop is passing my knowledge on Japanese mediæval pottery to wood-fire enthusiasts through my lectures and workshop at the festival.”
Dried fish, flowers, wood measured in rice bags, 1.5 tonnes of raku clay… just some of the items on Rita Gudino’s (from the Philippines) materials list! She will host a workshop before the festival to make clay babies (Sibol) which will be ‘born’ in her Lual kiln in a spectacular ceremony at the Festival. The Lual kiln is in the form of a birthing woman surrounded by another kiln (Kumot) in which the figure and her babies inside will be raku fired. A kiln inside a kiln!
Sculpture kiln-upcycling on a grand scale is on offer from Sergi Pahissa from Spain, who will be making a sculpture kiln made entirely from locally sourced recycled materials, culminating in a special performance on the Saturday evening of the festival.
Pizza Ovens are very much in vogue at the moment – Jamie Oliver has one and so can you! Welsh based potter Joe Finch will be demonstrating how to make a pizza oven in your own back yard.
North Wales Potters will be building a special raku kiln at the festival, and supplying bowls that can be decorated with visitor’s own designs, which will be raku fired on the spot.
In addition to the firings, the Festival will be welcoming a host of internationally renowned potters and ceramicists to demonstrate their skills. The Festival weekend programme is crammed to the brim with talks, demonstrations, films, trade stalls, exhibitions and more – it really is a mecca for potters, from professionals to the enthusiastic amateur from around the world.