The Georgia Clay Council and A.J. Argentina will be hosting an Aluminum Foil Saggar Fire workshop on Sunday, April 20, 2008.  This event is free for current GCC members and $35 for non-members. It will be held at Roswell Art Center West (1355 Woodstock Road, Roswell, GA) and will begin at 10 AM. The firings will continue until finished -- certainly no later than 4 PM.

The event will include a pot luck meal (bring something to share) and kiln firing of your piece (donations for gas usage will be accepted). Be sure to bring a bisque-fired piece that you would like to include in the firing. 

Here are a few notes from A.J. concerning your bisque-fired piece for the saggar fire:

“I've had great results with almost every clay I use... bodies that are more open almost never break, but I have had little breakage even with porcelain. I usually cover the clay with a simple OM4 terra sig and burnish.

Preparation: My best results have come from burnished work. Unburnished work will still obtain some good results, but a really tight surface, achieved with burnished terra sig., will yield the best results and higher degree of subtlety.

* Preparing for Saggar prior to bisque- Terra sig explanation and demo
* Preparing forms and saggars for firing using ferric chloride and aluminum foil
* Firing/cooling/soaking/waxing

Each load will take about an hour and a half.  We will have at least 2 kilns firing at a time (one large/one small).  Participants are welcome to bring any sized work (within reason).  Our largest kiln is 24x24".  Participants can bring about 5-15 pots depending on size... we will fire as much as possible being fair about quantity.

I will supply all saggar ingredients, but participants are welcome to bring any materials to experiment with.”

IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM A.J.

I didn't mention it before, and apologize, but I think it would be wise for us to request workshop participants bring respirators with organic vapor filters.... they will only be worn temporarily.

 

 Ferric Chloride + soda ash + aluminum foil creates a chemical reaction.  Part of the reaction is heat, and part is gas... chloride gas!

 

 I usually do this outside, down-wind and not worry too much.  The gasses are dispersed pretty quickly.  I've even done this type of saggar with my class with little worry, but with more people, it might be wise to promote safety with the process.

For more information on the workshop or what to bring for the pot-luck meal contact Brenda Rehrig at brehrig@mac.com.