This course is a great opportunity to actively participate in woodfiring, practising how to load and operate a wood firing kiln as well as learning about ash glazes.
During the course we will make glazes with local ashes and clays, exploring east asian ash glazes as well as more experimental recipes rooted in local materials. You will get a basic understanding of glaze chemistry and ash glazes theory and practice.
We will also do 2 firings in our freshly built wood firing kiln: one to test our glazes, and one to explore desired results. The kiln is a 260L fast firing phoenix kiln, which can easily reach 1300 degrees in 6h, but can be fired slower depending on desired results.
Students can bring a few bisqued pieces with them, otherwise the studio will provide 14 small (12x12 cm) and 2 large (25cm height) bisqued pieces to each student, which they will be able to glaze and fire in the kiln.
Please note that this course offers an extended schedule of 6 days of activities, in contrast to our usual 5-day format.
You will walk away from the course with:
Mati Cini is Salemi Ceramic’s lead ceramicist. She lives between Barcelona and Salemi and has been a ceramicist and ceramics teacher for the past 10 years. A disciple of Jaime Romero, she has built several kilns in Spain before coming to Salemi, and has extensively researched natural glazes and ash glazes.
Previous ceramics experience is preferred.
This course is right for you if:
During this week, you won’t just get a ceramics course. We’ve also organised a program of activity so that you can connect with Sicilian culture, get to know the town of Salemi and its rich history and territory.
You will:
The Salemi School of Ceramics is a social enterprise that has been opened to create a learning centre for contemporary ceramics, the first of its kind in Sicily.
The School has been created in partnership with the local town of Salemi, which has provided the gorgeous space - the St Agustin Convent - that will be used for the school.
Salemi has a gorgeous historical centre and because it is quiet and peaceful, it is the perfect place for a mindful ceramics retreat.
(This may vary depending on factors such as good weather for firing)
Sunday - Arrival and welcome.
Monday - Presentation, preparing ash glazes.
Tuesday - Glazing, loading the kiln, firing (well into the night).
Wednesday - Free morning and opening the kiln in the afternoon, analysis.
Thursday - Preparing more glazes, glazing.
Friday - Loading the kiln and firing.
Saturday - Free morning and opening the kiln in the afternoon.
Sunday - Goodbyes 🥲
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The Salemi Project wants to make Salemi a recognised centre for contemporary ceramic art. Come and be part of it!
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