SAGGAR FIRING

Saggar Firing: The 'Tie-Dye' of Atmospheric Ceramics
Saggar firing is a low-temperature atmospheric ceramic process in which unglazed clay pieces are placed inside an enclosure—a saggar—packed with organic matter and mineral oxides. The saggars are low-oxygen micro-environments with combustibles that vaporize, driving fuming minerals and carbon directly into the clay to create permanent, irreplicable surface patterns on decorative ceramic pieces.

Workshop: Archaeology of Self Meets the Ecology of Community

An interdisciplinary, hands-on studio experience connecting personal identity, local ecology, and collective inquiry.

In this hands-on workshop, participants use local natural materials to explore their connection to their peers and their environment. Participants gather local botanicals and organic matter to adhere to small-scale ceramic works that they create. Encapsulated within individual saggars alongside their collected specimens, their clay pieces undergo a transformational firing where carbon marks from the firing leave a permanent record on the clay.

Experiential Highlights

Experiential "Archaeology" & The Reveal: Loading and unloading the sealed ceramic saggars mirrors a field site excavation. Because combustion paths are inherently unpredictable, each piece reveals a distinct artifact.
Low Barrier, High Engagement: Requiring no prior background in studio art, the process leverages atmospheric chemistry transforming clay creations into etheral ceramic pieces.
Collaborative Connection: Designed as a counterweight to digital screen fatigue, the workshop offers a tactile, grounded space which fosters cooperation and shared creative discovery.

We invite your department or organization to partner with us in experimenting with local ecology and unearthing new modes of collaborative creativity. Sign up for details