Soda firing ceramics, artist in residence

During my artist residency at Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts in 2024, I experienced my first soda firing. A soda firing is a method of firing ceramic pieces that creates a glaze atmosphere (also called an atmospheric firing) by spraying soda ash or baking soda into the kiln while it is at top temperature. The soda vaporizes in the kiln and creates lovely, organic, and unpredictable glazes on the surface of the ceramic pieces.