Just this past week, our organization completed the structure that will house our brand-new, hand-built Soda Kiln, and will soon complete an adjacent patio to receive guests and artists alike, all made possible by generous donations from Bascom supporters. We are pleased that we have opened the Kiln as we enter our busy summer.
The Bascom is now the only center of its kind to have a soda kiln in Western North Carolina. Designed and constructed by Will Baker of the Penland area, it was fired for the first time this week.
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What’s so Special About a Soda Kiln?
The Bascom's Soda Kiln has 22 cubic feet of stacking space, which means it can hold a significant volume of work. This particular Kiln is gas-powered and has the capacity to be fired to many different temperatures depending on the clay used. In addition, the kiln has multiple “portals” that are removed at 2300 degrees so the artists can throw or spray a sodium solution into the kiln to affect the outcome of the firing. The sodium attaches to the silica in the clay body and produces rich and luscious surfaces, unique to this process.
The soda process is used with or without flashing slip, and can be used with or without glaze, allowing for dramatic effects on the surface of the clay such as changes in texture, tone, and dramatic coloring.
The Soda Kiln offers the cleanest form of atmospheric firing (in contrast to wood or salt).
The door of the Soda Kiln is constructed from bricks which are removed for loading the kiln, replaced, and then re-opened at the end of the process.
The kiln offers an opportunity for coming together to load, fire, and unload the kiln, building community among artists, and witnessing the unveiling of new work and the mysteries of the soda glaze.
Follow us on Social Media and in the Buzz for updates about opportunities to observe the process or taking a class!
