Livin' at SNAC

Pottery & Pit-fires

By: Karen Taylor

The basement at St. Norbert Arts Centre has a new resident:

Taylor Made Pottery.

This art and production pottery studio is run by local ceramic artist, Karen Taylor. That’s me! I’ve been at the studio since I moved to SNAC in July 2005. I moved here with my partner cartoonist Lex, our daughter Grace, and our cat, Barn.

We’ve recently acquired a potter’s wheel, a kiln hook up, and a few other studio essentials. I am proud to announce our summer/fall education schedule. Join me!

Along with my regular tableware, I also love to make “pit-fired” earthenware. The pit-fire is where pottery began. Some 10,000 years ago, the women of the Americas, central Asia, and Africa made pottery with what they had in hand. All of their materials were collected by hand from their local surroundings: Clay and sand for construction, Grasses, dung, seaweed, and twigs for firing. Marrying earth, wind, fire, and water, these women created everything from water jugs and cooking pots to ceremonial vessels and masks.

The first pots were made by smearing mud on a basket, then burning it away in the fire. Far more versatile and strong, “coil building” was the next technological step in pottery construction. Long ropes or “coils” of clay would be wound and stacked into the desired form. Next, the pot would be paddled and scraped to achieve dense, even walls. Finally, the pottery would be carved, impressed, or painted with contrasting coloured clay.

After careful drying, the pottery would be baked in an open bonfire, or a pit in the ground, hence the term “pit-fire.”

Marrying Earth, Wind,
Fire, and Water

Pots and fuel would be stacked with broken fire pieces to protect the raw clay from direct flame. The fire would be lit and fuel would be added with consideration for wind direction to ensure even heating. When the ware was glowing a bright, cherry red, the whole stack would often be smothered with ash or dung to insulate against rapid cooling. The firing lasted anywhere from 3 to 10 hours, and cooling for at least twice as long.

The pit-fire is one of my favorite pottery production methods. It’s history and challenging simplicity attracts me to this women’s work of centuries ago.

Right now, I’m working on a schedule of fall/winter workshops to teach this ancient art form. A women’s only workshop will be available.

To see some of my pit-fire work, as well as my new pieces in porcelain, I’d like to invite everyone to SNAC. Any questions, comments, or special orders please email me at: taylormadepottery@hotmail.com

Summer/Fall Pottery Education Schedule

Drop-In Lessons
Tuesday night 7–9 p.m.
Sunday afternoon 1–3 p.m.
• simple construction basics
• must have a minimum of two classes for completed project.

*Cost: $15 plus monthly lab fee of $10

Private/ Semi-private Throwing Lessons
Times are flexible. Please email:
taylormadepottery@hotmail.com to book a session.
• learn to throw pots on a potter’s wheel, one on one or with a friend.
• sessions are 3 hours long
• must have a minimum of two classes for a completed project.

*Cost: $45/lesson private $30/lesson semi-private
*One time $30 lab fee that includes clay, tools, firing, and some glazes.

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