When Creativity Meets Fire

Would you like to explore the world of ceramics, but don’t know where or how to fire your pieces? For those taking their first steps in this art form, access to a kiln can seem like a difficult hurdle to overcome. Investing in specialized equipment isn’t always within everyone’s reach, but there are other ways to transform clay into ceramics.

At Cerdeira, we believe that creativity also stems from experimentation, the sharing of knowledge, and the discovery of alternative approaches. It is precisely this spirit that inspired the “Rudimentary Kilns” workshop: an opportunity to explore accessible firing methods and discover new ways of working with ceramics.

Over the course of three days, we’ll build small gas or wood-fired kilns, learning how they work and how to use them safely. More than just building a kiln, it’s about discovering what’s possible with simple resources, knowledge, and a willingness to experiment.

The adventure begins with creating pieces using different ceramic clays, chosen based on the characteristics and requirements of the firings we’ll be conducting. Then comes the time to prepare the kilns, monitor the firing process, and observe the transformations that heat brings about in the clay.

On the last day, we open the kilns and discover the results. Each piece tells a different story, revealing the unique aspects of each process and the surprises that are part of this experience. There’s time to observe, compare, draw conclusions, and, of course, take your creations home.

Learning to build your own kiln also means learning to discover new possibilities. It means gaining autonomy, experimenting without fear of straying from conventional paths, and realizing that ceramics can be created in many places, using different tools and resources.

At Cerdeira, we want the desire to create to always outweigh the obstacles. Because sometimes, it all starts with a little clay, a hand-built kiln, and the curiosity to discover what happens next.