The Art of Wood Firing

This story is part of a series on the Art of Wood Firing.  On this day, potter and video producer Jennifer Boyd visited the studio of Nancy Magnusson as she, along with a community of potters, prepared for their next firing. 

Nancy Magnusson has a unique ability to gather people together.  She is a potter living in Tolland, Massachusetts, but her influence on the artistic community extends well beyond the Massachusetts boarder.   “The community that builds around a wood kiln is so important because there is so much work to be done,” said Nancy.

The community she brings together draws from a pool of local talent throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts.  These artists come together every six weeks for a labor intensive, 40 hour wood firing experience, that results not only in the creation of art but close friendships, as well. 

“It was really hard for me to decide to make a career change because there was a lot of attraction for the financial income that I had in working in the corporate world, but I really just got to the point where I just couldn’t stand it anymore.” 

Nancy quit her job in the IT world 9 years ago, and now spends each day in a studio in the woods behind her home.  “I had to be doing something that was more creative and I was very fortunate that I got hired to be a studio manager at a studio in Connecticut.  Although it did not even begin to match what I was making in information technology, but in any case it paid the gas.”   

Nancy says that she makes 10 cents an hour doing pottery, and it’s easy to see why.  On the day I ventured to her studio (see video above), a group of potters were loading the kiln for the next firing.   “I don’t think you could be happy as a wood fired pottery if you didn’t enjoy cutting wood, doing all the physical labor, spending a day to a day and a half loading your kiln.  I came up with 17 days getting ready for each firing and that includes cutting 2 cords of wood before each firing.” 

According to Nancy it takes 3 people three days to cut the wood, split the wood and stack the wood.  Then it’s another days to load the kiln. “It’s close to a day to clean the kiln and clean all of the shelves, each of which weighs about 40 or 50 pounds. “ However, all of the potters involved agree the work is worth the effort. 

Wood firing uses wood has a fuel source rather than gas or electricity.  It is an ancient technique that came from Korea to Japan and then to this country, and it’s gaining popularity.  “The reasons I think we love it so much is the ash that it gives to the pieces and the randomness and the effects of the flame,” said Nancy. 

In one of the kiln's chambers, Nancy sprays soda bicarbonate (baking soda) on the pieces.  “The stuff my mother used to give me when I had an upset stomach.  And we spray it into the kiln at a very high temperature.”  The soda volatilizes with the high heat and is carried by the flame throughout the kiln.  This creates a soft, satin sheen on the pots.   

Nancy could not create her pottery without a community of artists to support the effort.    “We’re all very tired which also bonds people.  It’s pretty much the same people who come here to cut the wood, stack the wood and load the kiln.  I am not the master or total resource. Everyone who comes here contributes to the knowledge and the experience. “

In the final installment of this series we will see the results from their latest firing.