New England Wood Firing Conference

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New England Wood Firing Conference

A 10 day pottery tour of New England's woodkilns and centralized conference in the New Haven, CT area.

Firings, kiln unloadings, lectures, demonstrations and more will abound as attendees immerse themselves in our wood firing community.

22/04/2025

ey Folks, a few rough pot shots from our April firing of the . Big thanks to the firing crew.
NEWFC 2025 is coming up in just a few short weeks. Firing Week is June 18-25th. Consider joining a crew if you are interested in entering into the wood-firing world or would like to meet another group in our clan ;)
The conference is intended to foster the greater sense of community among us as we move on in our clay practice.
It's been amazing to learn of and be a part of the shared experiences that have ensued directly from NEWFC 2023, I can't wait to be a part of the nexct one!
The pots shown here include Rock Glaze experiments I've been working on with Steve Johnson of . Steve's provided raw materials, insight and his hammer mill...so key. We look forward to moving forward with more exploration and discovery on this, new to me, front.
Be well folks, Trev

28/03/2025

Hey Folks, another call out for applicants for The Will of the Kiln, NEWFC 2025. Nozomu Shinohara and Hitomi Shibata will be our esteemed jurors. The event is sure to be an exciting show. We'll be live-streaming the opening at Southern Connecticut State University's Art Gallery and conducting an online auction of the works at the same time....think Southebys-style Live Online auction style with a potter's twist ;) I hope you'll consider applying, Trev

25/03/2025

Hello Folks, introducing John Reinking as a special Host Kiln owner for NEWFC 2025. Although fires outside New England-proper...he's a friendly neighbor and we're honored to have him and his crew joining us for the Conference.
John writes, "Before we moved to New Jersey, I had already had the wood firing bug and was searching for a property that would achieve the goals and needs set forth in having a kiln and surrounding wood firing community. When we found this property, we knew it was it! So much so that the neighbors were informed of our intentions. I couldn’t have asked for a more immediately supportive local community as well as the community of potters that has been built and now surround me. When researching what type of kiln I wanted to build, I, of course, traveled to a bunch of Kilns. I wanted to have options...so there’s multiple sides stokes for numerous loading configurations and the height and width for larger scale work. But ultimately it’s about creating community...
The kiln that we’ve constructed in 2015, took us about a year to build and is roughly 6 1/2 feet tall, 6 1/2 feet wide and 12 feet long. We fire twice a year with about 750-1000 pieces of work from 40 artists for seven days. Each time, consuming about seven cords of wood and reaching Cone 13 in the front and Cone 12 in the back. As we are nearing our 20th firing, it gives me pause about how many potters and artists have been out here. How many beautiful pieces have emerged from the inferno. I contemplate the new work and relationships that will arise from this kiln in the future."

24/03/2025

Be the first to
Hello Folks!
Introducing Claire Engelhardt of
Claire is one of 10 AJ DiMasi Foundation Scholarship Ticket Recipients for NEWFC 2025.
Claire will be firing with and this summer as a part of the conference. They'll be firing the and running an intuitive firing. No cones and no pyrometer!

Claire writes, "I have worked in ceramics for over a decade and it wasn’t until I began woodfiring that it felt like my work was truly being realized. I am interested in building my own kiln one day and want to
meet lots of people who have achieved this.
I have been woodfiring for the past four years. In the past year I have been trying to expand my
experience at different kilns. I’m also looking to fire with more artists to learn about what kinds
of choices they make through the firing to get their desired results. I want to experience the
ways the different structures of a kiln and different choices in a firing affect the surfacing of my work.
I work for a community studio in Philadelphia, helping members experience woodfiring. Often
for the very first time. I bring them to a noborigama outside the city. With the guide at the host
studio I lead our members through the process getting them situated and share introductory information about woodfiring.
I like teaching, but I love to learn even more, so I’m looking for ways to be a student again. I want to bring the experience and knowledge back to my community at home.
The experience of woodfiring has been such a fulfilling point of community building within my
studio but also in connecting me to a wider ceramic community in Philadelphia. I hope to get to
know the woodfire community across the country!"

21/03/2025

Hello Folks, I'm pleased to introduce Sam VanShoick.
Sam writes, "My name is Sam and I’m the hands behind .forms.ceramics. I make pots that make me happy, inspired by nature, bodies, and a desire to make things that are a little romantic and a little strange.
A few things about me: I’m new to my clay journey, in May it’ll be three years exploring this craft. In that short time I’ve tried to immerse myself in it whenever possible: exploring wood firing, raku, attending two NCECAs, making a pilgrimage to Seagrove, attending the first ever , to now helping plan and organize the second, and being an intern at .
I’m constantly excited by the community I’ve found with clay and can’t wait to see what’s next. Thanks for following the journey!

10/03/2025

Hello Folks! I'm pleased to introduce Walter Slowinski. Walter is a wood-fire potter working in Brattleboro, VT who will be joining us as a Host Kiln owner for NEWFC 2025. Consider firing with Walter; he fires with salt and has developed a beautiful pallet of form and surfaces. He's welcoming and generous. You're sure to find value in his company ;)
Walter writes, "My approach is to form vessels of daily use that have some sweetness of shape that invite touch and might please the eye, and then surrender that piece to the fire. The piece becomes a canvas upon which the fire paints. I use clay that is sensitive to the differences in atmosphere that exist within a wood fire and that show the touch of ash. I like to explore the tensions between firmness and control vs fluidity and spontaneity in my forms.

Gnarly wild wood branches form the handles. Wood and rock often relate to each other in natural environments; the pots mirror, honor and celebrate that long marriage."

04/03/2025

Hey Folks, about two months left to apply for The Will of the Kiln. All selected artists will receive a complimentary Conference Weekend pass for June 27&28, 2025. I hope you'll seriously consider applying and being a significant part of the conference!
Scan the QR or see link in bio.
Deadline: May1,2025

28/02/2025

Hey Folks, we've added a new item to the Kiln Threads line for NEWFC 2025!
Consider supporting the Conference and amping up your style! These new Trucker hats are emblazoned with a Direct to Film Logo that was designed by my friend .
We're taking orders for late April delivery. Shipping is included in the price of all Kiln Threads. Link in Bio.
Best, Trevor

04/02/2025

Hey Folks, reintroducing Lillann will be joining us for NEWFC 2025. She'll be a firing lead for the firing of the at the Youngberg kilnyard. She'll be sharing her expertise in firing with intuitive methods which include close attention to the kiln chameber's atmosphere, flame speed and color progression. Additionally, she'll be curating and installing The Will of the Kiln juried woodfire ceramics exhibit for NEWFC 2025. We are excited to welcome Hitomi Shibata of and Nozomu Shinohara as jurors for our show. Thank you Hitomi and Nozomu!

For more info: link in bio

Please consider applying to The Will of the Kiln show. Kiichi Takeuchi of and will be coordinating a live auction that will be live streamed during the opening as well ;) Take care folks and I hope to see you at the reception here in Connecticut in June!

17/12/2024

Hey Folks!
A bunch of shots of last weekend's Fiat Ignus II at . Such a nice vibe flowing among us...and the pots reflected the personalities of the potters for sure! Thank you Kiichi for providing a space for us to share in the fiery fun. Thanks to everyone for both attending and being a part of this most special event, Trev
33m

20/11/2024

Hey Folks, highlighting Krystal Yavacoli of .earthceramics. Krystal was a Scholarship Ticket Program recipient at NEWFC 2023. Krystal chose to work and fire with for the conference and has continued on her fiery path since. She's even joined me here in Woodbridge, CT to fire ;)
Consider applying for the 2025 STP.
Deadline: January 1. 2025.
We're looking to support as many up and coming woodfire potters as possible...a minimum of 10 at the moment. Check out the conference website for more info.
Krystal writes, " I want to thank you for creating the NEWFC because without that I’m not sure if I would be so involved with atmospheric firing the way that I am now. Aside from firing with you twice, I’ve done a soda firing with Stuart Gair at Watershed and did a salt and soda firing with Tyler Gulden at Haystack too. It’s easy to see that I’m hooked now! "

14/11/2024

Hey Folks, I hope you'll seriously consider joining this coming June for fiery fun! Mike is super enthusiastic and loves to share his facilities and process with wood-fire potters of all levels.
Mike writes, "Sharing is caring lol ;)

I think one of the driving forces behind my passion to fire atmospherically is the conversations and collaborations with folks from all walks of life, on things pottery-related or not. Having a genuine time to connect is so challenging and rare, and to have the opportunity to share my ideas, and learn from others is critical and beautiful way to help push my creative practice. In my studio there are always things in development…. For the past year I have been experimenting with dried star fish. The results have been incredible and it has been a blast seeing other’s experiment with this technique. I hope you join me during the 2025 wood-firing conference to chat about my latest tests or experiments or to share some ideas of your own!"

Address

Woodbridge, Court

Website

http://NewEnglandWFC.com/

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