The Roman Spectacle

A Roman gladiatorial spectacle of magnificent proportions

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The Roman Spectacle

A Roman gladiatorial spectacle of magnificent proportions

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The Greek Kiln

Educating members, local schools, and local artists in the techniques, making, and firing of Greek style pottery

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The Greek Kiln

Educating members, local schools, and local artists in the techniques, making, and firing of Greek style pottery

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International Archaeology Day

Providing the chance to indulge your inner Indiana Jones

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Kiln FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AIA TUCSON GREEK KILN

 

1. Q. Where will the firing take place?

A. The firing will take place at the St. Augustine Catholic High School, located at 8800 East 22nd Street and Camino Seco in Tucson, Arizona.

 

2. Q. What type of kiln will be fired?

A. The replica of an ancient Greek kiln is an updraft, two-chambered, wood-fired kiln. It has a stoking channel, a combustion chamber, a central support for a perforated floor, the chamber where the pots are stacked, a loading door, a spy hole, and a vent.

 

3. Q. How many pieces can one bring?

A. The total space inside the kiln is about 1.5m3. The pieces could be max. ca. 8 x 10 x 6 inches. My suggestion is for people to bring 4-6 pieces and once we are out there, if we have enough space, all pots can go it, or the potters can make a selection on the spot. Also broken pots, wasters etc are welcome for filling up the kiln!!

 

4. Q. Approximately what cone will you be firing at?

A. The cone is ca. 06. Last time we fired the kiln up to 900°C (1600°F).

 

5. Q. How long will the firing last and what type of time commitment do we have?

A. In the past firings last about 8 hours- People can come and go as they wish. A group of 3 kiln workers are around all the time. We realized that starting at the late morning is much more comfortable and the view of the flames during the evening is amazing!!

 

6. Q. Will the firing be a glaze or a bisque firing?

A. The firing will be a bisque firing, but if potters want to try some glazes that can fire below 1000°C (1800°F), then I guess it is OK. Eventually we want to be able to fire black and red figured pottery (ancient Greek techniques) in the kiln, so we might as well try it. The pots should not be pre-fired (bisque). If some pots are prefired, perhaps we can test them out if there are any differences after their second, woodfiring.

 

7. Q. Is there any charge for using the kiln?

A. No. Volunteering with the firing, however, is always needed and welcome. Any donations of wood are mostly welcome!! Some assistance with chopping wood is occasionally needed.

 

8. Q. Can the kiln be fired outside AIA scheduled firings?

A. Certainly, it is possible. We kindly request to be notified in advance, so that we can make the arrangements with the hosting School. Our policy is to attend all events scheduled and to keep a record of activities, participation, and results, since this kiln is tied in with on-going research at the Department of Classics and since this information is vital for future fundraising.

 

9. Q. How can we be notified about any firings in the future?

A. We maintain a list of interested participants, and we always send out announcements prior to the events. If you would like to be added to our listserv, or would like more info, please contact Eleni Hasaki at hasakie@email.arizona.edu. Please do NOT call the School except for driving directions. 

For updates, please visit the AIA Tucson homepage at http://aiatucsonweb.arizona.edu (click under Projects)

 

SEE YOU AT THE FIRING!