Festival of Fire

The annual Festival of Fire is back again this year!

A collaboration between the Department of Technology and the Department of Art & Design, this annual tradition presents both a ceramic Pit Fire and an Iron-Pour.

Pit-firing is the oldest form of firing pottery and ceramics. Unfired clay pots and sculptures are placed into a pit in the ground, and a bonfire is created over it and sustained throughout the day. The fire vitrifies the ceramics and creates interesting and unpredictable surface decoration.

During the Iron-Pour, recycled scrap iron is heated to nearly 2,500 degrees until it is liquified. Then, the liquid iron is poured into molds to create new and original sculptures and designs. Scratch plates, a means to easily create iron plaques, will be available for anyone who would like to have their own idea or design cast in iron.

Beginning at noon, there will also be a Create Your Own Cyanotype Workshop, allowing participants the opportunity to create their own cyanotype prints on fabric using sunlight and iron-based photographic chemistry.

The campus community is invited to join the fun, watch the process, and create something new! See the full schedule of events below.

10am to 5pm: Ceramics Pit-Fire

12pm to 5pm: Create Your Own Cyanotype

1pm to 5pm: Iron-Pour and Scratch Plate Activity

This event is free and open to all.