Fire and Ash: One Kiln...One Firing...One Team

The physical demands of the process often invite artists to undertake wood firing as a collective venture; a team of artists will join forces to share the labour in preparing and loading the kiln and firewood. Yet, it would be inaccurate to envisage the teamwork in solely pragmatic terms; ideas are passionately exchanged, and deep camaraderie invariably forms during the several sleepless nights spent together to ensure the firing's success.

In Fire and Ash: One Kiln...One Firing...One Team, we are proud to showcase the outstanding works of one such team. Led by the distinguished Barbara Campbell-Allen OAM, ceramicists Montessa Maack, Yumi Sakai-Harmelin, Yegana Jafarova and Chris Suttie partook in the firing of the former's Anagama kiln, Matilda, in July 2024 to produce exemplar ceramics that collectively capture the rich aesthetic possibilities of a single firing. The surface and form of each work display the individuality of each artist, while simultaneously retaining their shared origins. Together, they embody the collaborative spirit of wood firing at its finest.