THE SCHOOL OF ART'S KILN FUND

Donations will make high fire kiln a reality
 

The School of Art has worked hard to improve its ceramics studio and broaden the pottery program. Over the last four years, several large strides have been made, including: building a raku kiln and holding monthly firings; adding mid- and high-fire porcelain and stoneware clays; mixing and formulating glazes from raw materials; beginning a saggar firing program, and adding a high fire/cone 10 gas firings. With these additions, the program expanded greatly from commercial glazes on low fire clay to the vibrant ceramics studio it is today.

The current high fire program is taught by Instructor Jay Hatfield and all pieces are fired in a kiln belonging to him. The continued success of the program made it clear that the School of Art needed a large kiln of its own. Last summer, clay students Gray Thomas (pictured above) and Steven Dick collaborated on ways to raise funds to have a kiln either built or bought for the studio. Gray researched and priced kilns and came across one best-suited for the program, which was for sale in Miami.

The ceramics program is proud to announce it is adding an Olympic DD30 gas fired kiln, which will triple the high fire kiln space available to students. In order to accomplish this, the School of Art is counting on the help and generosity of its many supporters. The like-new kiln comes from a potter in Miami who accepted less than its value. With his kind addition of shelving units, kiln furniture and rolling carts plus the School's costs of moving and installation, we need to raise $6,000 to pay for this wonderful kiln, equipment and the cost of installation.

Much has already gone into making this a reality. A team of four men: Jay Hatfield, Steven Dick, Jeffery Archer and Fernando Carbajal spent a long day loading amd moving everything to the studio, where the kiln now sits. Gray Thomas generously started off our fundraising with a monetary donation and will be donating her time to help with fundraising efforts.

We need your help to make the ceramics program everything it can be. Donate to the kiln fund today! Call us at (561) 746-3101.