Baltimore Clayworks Ignites Creativity with 10th Annual Fire Fest 2024!
October 19, 2024 | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
BALTIMORE, MD – Get ready for an unforgettable night of fire, food, and creativity as Baltimore Clayworks presents its 10th Annual Fire Fest on Saturday, October 19, 2024. From the glow of ceramic firings to the heat of flame-broiled BBQ sliders, Fire Fest 2024 is a spectacular celebration of fire’s transformative power in the world of ceramics.
This year’s festival will feature exciting live demonstrations of various global firing techniques, including Raku kiln firings, which originated in China and Japan, and the Obvara kiln firing, led by Professor Trisha Kyner of the Community College of Baltimore County, with roots in the Baltic region of Eastern Europe. Watch as clay vessels are pulled from 1650°F kilns and plunged into cooler materials, creating mesmerizing and unpredictable glaze patterns.
The evening will also showcase Baltimore Clayworks’ Community Woodfiring of the Noborigama kiln, a Japanese ascending kiln, the first of its kind in Baltimore. Under the direction of Wood Kiln Technician Jeremy Wallace, students from Towson University, CCBC, Anne Arundel Community College, and Morgan State University will feed the kiln over a two-day process, reaching temperatures of 2300°F and resulting in unique glaze effects from the wood ash.
As part of the festivities, guests can dive into the fun by participating in the Clay Olympics, where competitors test their clay-handling skills in challenges such as the Longest Coil Duo, Tandem Wheel Duo, and Teapot Throwdown. Winners will take home handmade clay prizes and, of course, bragging rights!
Hungry from all the excitement? Attendees can indulge in flame-broiled BBQ sliders from Train Stop Smokehouse or enjoy vegan bites from Koshary Corner. Wash it all down with festive libations provided by Boordy Vineyards, Union Craft Brewing, and more local favorites.
Proceeds from Fire Fest 2024 will directly support Baltimore Clayworks’ artistic and educational programs, including its renowned Community Arts program, which provides access to clay for artists of all ages and abilities throughout the Baltimore region.
This year’s 10th Annual Fire Fest T-shirt was designed by local artists Andrew Black, Dana Cooley, and Jaden Meeks. Be sure to pre-order your shirt and wear it proudly during the event! To further support the festival, volunteer opportunities are available.
Event Schedule:
- 5:45 – 5:55 PM: Longest “Sam Approved” Coil Duo
- 6:00 – 6:25 PM: Tandem Wheel Duo
- 6:30 – 6:55 PM: Mystery Portrait Throwdown
- 7:00 – 7:25 PM: Teapot Throwdown
- 7:30 – 7:55 PM: Mystery Hand-Building Team of 4
- 8:10 PM: Awards and Raffle Drawings
For tickets, pre-order T-shirts, or sign up to volunteer, visit: https://baltimoreclayworks.org/event/fire-fest-2024/
About Baltimore Clayworks
Recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, Baltimore Clayworks was founded by nine artists in 1980. Our mission is to develop, sustain, and promote an artist-centered community that provides outstanding educational, residency, and collaborative programs in the ceramic arts. We offer classes and workshops for adults and children, host short and long-term residencies for emerging artists, present rotating exhibitions along with a retail shop featuring the work of local and internationally recognized ceramicists, and Baltimore Clayworks utilizes the universal medium of clay to engage under-resourced communities in and around Baltimore.