Trial by Fire: Engineering a Sheet-Metal Pit Fire for Wild Clay
We built a zero-cost, metal pit kiln to test wild Northwestern Ontario clay and local ash glazes.
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Wild Clay
Our wild clay work in Northwestern Ontario brings locally sourced earth, ceramics, arts research, and deep-time storytelling together. Working with clays gathered in the Melgund and Borups Corners area, we are testing how naturally occurring grey, red, and varved clays can be processed, fired, mixed with local materials, and developed into functional and experimental ceramics.
The work connects community-based material research with environmental observation, food and land-based programming, and participatory research related to Northwestern Ontario’s changing social and ecological conditions.
Shovels Hit the Dirt for Melgund Clay’s First Pit Firing
We broke ground on our backyard pit to test local Melgund clay following a summer of fire bans.
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Fire Restrictions Lifting
Northwestern Ontario's fire restrictions are coming off, and our wild clay is finally ready for its first pit firing.
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Pit Firing Update: Preparing for the Fire
One of our summer Living Lab projects is transforming local wild clays and forest materials into a ceramic research program.
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Smoke, Shadow, and Birch Bark
How a bucket of birch sawdust can change your autumn pit fire forever.
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More Than 35 Pounds of Wild Clay, One Handful at a Time
Forest fires delayed our pit firing, but our wild clay journey continues with beautiful grey, red, and varved native clays.
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Birch for Pit Firing: Exploring Wild Clay and Bark Effects
Summer birch harvest supports both firewood storage and upcoming ceramic pit firing work.
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Collecting Poplar Brush for Fall Pottery Pit Firings
Seasonal brush collection turns poplar into reliable, no-waste fuel for atmospheric ceramic pit firings in the fall.
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Exploring Northwestern Ontario Wild Clay for Ceramics and Pottery
This summer we're exploring how to harvest and process wild clay for pottery and ceramics with Art Borups Corners.
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Summer Arts: Wild Clay Experiment Shows Promising Early Results
See how our first wild clay samples performed after rapid outdoor drying as we explore the potential of local clay for future artwork.
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