by TASI Executive Director, Greg Busceme, Sr.
Right now, Gary “Greeny’ Greenberg, Chris Leonard, Dayna Rothenberger, and Corbyn Ford are working out the arch of the new kiln we are building with old supplies. Everything we used on the old kiln will be recycled to the new kiln. This kiln is fueled by natural gas where some kilns may be fueled by wood or oil. Each fuel adds something to the look of the pottery. The function of a kiln is just like an oven i.e., to heat things up. The difference is an oven will go to 500 degrees where a ceramic kiln will go to 2400 degrees. In a gas kiln you can fire in a variety of atmospheres, such as oxidation, reduction, and vapor.
Oxidation is an atmosphere that has a high-quality mix of air. It is used more often in electric kilns with atmospheres that are clean and efficient, however, the temperatures are lower than what the gas kiln can achieve. Gas kilns can create a reduction atmosphere simply by reducing the air to gas ratio. This creates an object with better color in the clay and far more interesting activity on the glaze. With a lack of oxygen and high temperatures, the heat begins to eat the oxides from the glaze chemicals and causes some beautiful disturbances on the pots.
I’m telling you this because I want you to know what an amazing art and craft ceramics is and the alchemy that takes place in that little brick box. Inside that incredible box an entire other world exists, but only in the fiery heat, the crucible of our work and our hearts’ desires.
This is what I want for you! Nurture your art and never deny your passion. Embrace it. We change the world through our art.