craft | Pincu Pottery

Manabigama – LeVeL

Posted on March 24, 2010 by pincupottery

Well…. Joe Frank did it. Scott helped create a form and Joe Frank poured castable and concrete to level both the firebox and the kiln. It, apparently, is now level and we are ready to begin building up, up and away!

Firebox is now level.

Wooden form will eventually come off and we will begin bricking up the floor of the kiln. The firebox is poured castable on hardbrick. The kiln itself has concrete. The firebrick will go ontop of the concrete. Lets hope this baby lasts and lasts. Personally, I have never poured anything but the keystone of a kiln (and used castable for the exterior). Of course, to be perfectly honest, I have little experience building kilns. I think I have participated in just one true kiln building class where we built a kiln from scratch. So…. I just should keep my mouth shut.

Manabigama in construction - side view

On the right is the firebox (yellow brick = firebrick). The wood frame is still there to hold the concrete/castable. Next week we begin bricking the floor of the kiln!

We will have a wood kiln soon!!!!

I’ll keep you posted.

Manabigama Part 1

Posted on March 19, 2010 by pincupottery

Southwestern Community College, here at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has begun to build their Manabigama wood kiln!

The shed has been up for some time, but the weather has not cooperated – especially at night when class meets.

Our first hurdle has been met – our slab is not level which means the concrete block that supports the chamber is not level. Our firebox turned out to be off and so the final cap block for the base will not allow for our row 12 brick to create a flush kiln floor.

Britt is cleaning up, others check level and discuss

Before that, we were cruising along with concrete block and firebrick. Goldart and water make the mud to stick the bricks together.

Firebox started for Manabigama kiln

Joe Frank McKee is our captain. Hopefully with him in charge, we will have a beautifully firing kiln that lasts and lasts and lasts. We are hoping to make this a wood/soda kiln.

While some bricked and bricked, Scott began mapping out the arch form. He is a carpenter and so will create the form. He also will help us level the kiln by making forms for pouring concrete. The concrete will level the kiln floor. Softbrick and firebrick will go on top to make the inside kiln floor.

Scott mapping arch form

So far, we have 3 electric kilns, one updraft gas kiln, one raku kiln and 2 test kilns (electric). Not too shabby for a community college!

NC Clay Conference

Posted on March 11, 2010 by pincupottery

Just back from the North Carolina Ceramics Conference held in Asheboro. Six of us ladies from Southwestern Community College drove to the event a day ahead to have time to explore some potteries in Seagrove.

Headed to Seagrove? I highly recommend visiting these potteries:

Bulldog Pottery – These two are GLAZE MASTERS! My goodness…. their use of glaze materials to get the depth of surface is incredible. Also, check out their lid system for their covered jars. Amazing fit!

Westmoore Pottery– Traditional red clay slipware in a traditional tudor style building. Visiting Westmoore is like stepping back in time. If folk tradition is your thing, you must take a visit! Beautiful, traditional pots.

McCanless Pottery – Will had three distinct styles that he does quite well – a basic stoneware with lovely drawings based on maiolica tradition, beautiful crystalline glazes on classic vase shapes and traditional Seagrove Red on classical Chinese-type shapes. All well-thrown and finely glazed. You can also see some wonderful quilts by Scott Murkin, which adds to the pleasure of visiting McCanless Pottery.

NC Pottery Center – You cannot miss this museum/gallery hosting a historical museum of ceramics from the area as well as contemporary exhibitions.

There are soooo many potters in Seagrove, I am certain there are many others not to be missed; however we didn’t have time to visit them all and the above list is of those I visited and impressed me.

As for the conference, it was great to be amongst ceramic lovers such as myself. Two of my heroes in clay, Sarah Jaeger and Bruce Cochrane, demoed with Lorna Meaden, a fabulous potter.

The following is an image I took with my cellphone camera:

Bruce Cochrane with his demo pots completed

Bruce working on the wheel behind his demo pots.

Next year – NCECA!