Wood Firing Event at NCPC

Cerebration of Seagrove Potters made a plan to have group wood firing at NCPC and they asked STARworks Ceramics to donate NC Local Clay and also do technical support for the firing. The wood firing was hold on April 4th, and we helped kiln loading and leading wood firing for Seagrove potters.

It's always not easy to make everybody happy for large group wood firing, and I tried to be fare to load kiln with so many people and pots.

As for the firing, the first shift (Leader: Fred Johnston) started candling at 4:30am, and the second shift (Leader: David Stuempfle) got cone 010 down at 2pm and cone 6 down at 4pm in the glaze chamber. The third shift (Leader:Chad Brown) had a little bit hard time to control temperature differences between the bottom and top. Usually this stage is always hard because you must get temperature and heat but also good reduction atmosphere both at the same time.

STARworks Ceramcis was in charged of the last shift until finish, and it was also very hard to make temperatures evenly. Takuro watched flames in the kiln, smoke from chimney, sounds from kiln, color of flame, like many signs from firing, but not pyrometer. David and Alexa (Seagrove Stoneware), Benjamin Burns (The Great White Oak), Santiago Ramirez (STARworks Ceramics) were our team and we did good job to wrap up the hardest part of firing.

The glaze chamber was done around 7pm or so, then moved on the salt chamber. When cone 7 down on the bottom of the salt chamber, Hitomi kicked in rock salts (approx 10 lb) by metal angle, and we finally finished firing at 9:15pm.

As a result, it went well and seems like people were happy about the firing. Kiln unloading will be on April 13th (Monday) and you will see the results of STARworks NC local clay.
In my personal opinion, I have fired this kiln for seven times when I was a residency artist of NCPC, and this firing is probably one of the best firing at NCPC according to my experiences. I can't wait to see the results.

Large Bowl/ Platter Workshop

STARworks Ceramics start new program "Special Workshop Series" in this Spring and there was the first workshop "Large Bowl/Platter Workshop" today. Participants worked very hard and made nice large bowls and platters.Thank you for taking part in this workshop. Hope you learned something useful.

There are also "Japanese Teapot Workshop" in April, and "Basic Plaster Mold Making Workshop" in May, but both classes got full.

Because many people are still interested in those classes, STARworks Ceramics will have extra classes in June. Details will be announced very soon.

Community Board

STARworks Ceramics Office has changed layout a little bit and we set up Community Board on the wall. You can put classified information, like for Sale, WTB, Rent, employment, etc for free. We want to make use of it for potters. Also please bring or send postcard of your show, kiln opening, events, so that we can put it on the wall as well.

Policy

• STARworks Ceramics has all right of put/remove.
• We will remove information after about a month passed.
• STARworks Ceramics is not responsible for any trouble might occur from that.

Clay Experience Workshop

We had a group came to take Clay Experience Workshop on March 26 and they made great pots in our clay studio. Pots will be bisque fired after drying, and glazed and fired (Cone 6) by STARworks Ceramics shortly. It will take about 3 weeks for all process.

Thank you for coming and taking workshop.

If you are interested in Clay Experience Workshop, click to the below link and see more details.
http://starworksceramics.blogspot.com/2008/06/clay-experience-workshop.html

Open House was Successful

Clay Factory Open House was Successful on March 16th. We had Clay Factory tour, drinks and foods, and a clay sample for everybody. We hope you enjoy our clay "STAR White 10" and make nice pots.

Thank you very much for joining and supporting us.

Photo by Crystal

Clay Facroty Open House

STARworks Ceramics is pleased to announce we have a
Clay Factory Open House on March 16th (Mon) from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.

We will demonstrate some of the clay mixing operation beginning at 5:30pm, and we will be giving out small clay samples (approx 8 lb/person). Samples are limited, so first come, first served. Beer, wine and snacks will be served also. Don't miss this chance!

Clay Factory Open House
March 16th (Monday) 5-7pm
At STARworks Ceramics and Clay Factory

Special Workshop Series

STARworks Ceramics clay studio will offer Special Workshops in this spring. There are three exciting themes you may be interested in.

March 30 (Mon) 1:30-4:30pm
Large Bowl/Platter Making, 4 people/max
Intermediate to Advanced
Participants will make large bowl/ platter at least 18 inch width by electric wheel. Instructor gives demonstration, instruction and useful technique for making large pots. Cost $50 includes studio fee and all materials. You may want to bring some of your personal tools for throwing. Pots will be taken home with participants after the class.

April 27 (Mon) 1:30-4:30pm
Japanese Tea Pot Making, 4 people/max
Intermediate to Advanced
Participants will learn how to make Japanese style teapot by throwing. Tea pot is one of the hardest table wares, and instructor will teach all process to make teapot. There will be a tea break during the class, and participants will taste Japanese green tea. Cost $50 includes studio fee and all materials. You may want to bring some of your personal tools for throwing. Pots will be taken home with participant after the class.

May 18(Mon) 1:30-4:30pm
Basic Plaster Mold Making, 6 people/max
Beginner to Intermediate
Participants will learn how to make basic Plaster Mold. It'll be press mold which is basic mold but also most useful tool for ceramic table wares. Because it's long process to make a mold, you might need to prepare some before class and also take home work to be finished up. Cost: $50/person includes studio fee and all materials. You may want to bring some of your personal tools for mold making. Molds will be taken home with participants after the class.

Please sign up by phone (910-428-9007) or email
info@starworksnc.org in advance.

Instructor: Hitomi Shibata, STARworks Ceramics

Received Master of Education in Ceramics, Okayama National University, Japan in 1996. Residency artist at the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shiga, Japan in 1996-97. Set up studio and kiln in Shigaraki in 1998. Research Assistant at the Shigaraki Ceramic Research Institute in 1998 and 2004.

Received the Rotary Foundation Scholarship and became a special student in a grad program at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, CVPA in 2001-02. Residency Artist at the Cub Creek Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, VA in 2003. Residency artist and studio manager at North Carolina Pottery Center in 2005-2007.

Has experience as a professional potter, and gave workshops and lectures at Longwood University (VA), Longwood Center for Visual Arts (VA), Cub Creek Foundation (VA), University of Richmond (VA), Cornell University (NY) and East Carolina University (NC).

Received the Daiwa Foundation Scholarship and had wood fired ceramics research trip to England in 2006.

Has many shows and exhibitions in Japan, England and US.

Flower Pot Workshop was successful

There was a flower pot workshop at clay studio tonight again and we got a lot of flower pots. Thank you very much for coming and supporting STARworks.

Special thanks to:
Bruce and Gloria (Bull Dog Pottery), Meredith and Mark (Whynot Pottery), David (David Stuempfle Pottery), Mike (From the Ground Up), Tim and Robin, Evan (Wet Dog Glass), Kacy (NC Wild Life Resources Commission), Mr. and Mrs. Cook (Kacy's Parents), Crystal, Mike, Anne, Adam, Santiago, Takuro (STARworks)

Test Result

We unloaded the test kiln today and it looked good. Those pots are made from STARworks Clay which is used local wild clays in Montgomery County and Moore County. We are doing some clay body test (shrinkage, water absorption, etc), and we think it's getting better and better.

Don't miss STARworks Ceramics Clay Factory Open House on
March 16th (Mon) 5-7pm!

Clay Factory Open House

STARworks Ceramics is pleased to announce we have a Clay Factory Open House on March 16th (Mon) from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.

We will demonstrate some of the clay mixing operation beginning at 5:30pm, and we will be giving out small clay samples. Samples are limited, so first come, first served. Beer, wine and snacks will be served also. Don't miss this chance!

Clay Factory Open House
March 16th (Monday) 5-7pm
At STARworks Ceramics and Clay Factory