Baye Riddell – Korean Beach Firing

The Gisborne Pottery Group received Creative Communities funding for Whenua to Fire, a project exploring indigenous making and firing techniques. The grant primarily covered tutor fees for our renowned and much-loved clay master, Baye Riddell, while the Korean Beach Firing workshop also included learning, making, firing, clay, and kai.

On the day, perfect weather allowed for an early beach start at 9.30am. A small fire was built to heat the sand and pots arranged around it. As the temperature increased, the fire grew, and unfired pots were gently moved into the flames, with the fire maintained at a heat high enough to vitrify the clay.

After about three and a half hours, pieces were removed from the fire and placed on sand or sawdust. Some participants added combustibles to create beautiful surface effects as they touched the scalding clay. This was followed by the final plunge into water for thermal shock — some pieces survived, and some did not!

It was a day of collaboration, learning, and sharing with friends and whānau, enjoying good company and kai.

Ngā mihi nui to Creative Communities for awarding the Gisborne Pottery Group this grant, and to the many hands who helped make the day happen. To those who sourced wood and sawdust, organised food, and contributed the mahi that made this workshop a success in so many large and small ways.