Grosse Ile senior Ryan Taylor rakes the ashes of a kiln Sunday afternoon between Wightman and the North Art Studio. Students and instructors built the kiln during the summer of 2009. (Paige Calamari/Staff Photographer)

The holidays came early Sunday for Ryan Taylor.

The Grosse Ile senior, along with about a dozen other ceramic and pottery students, got to see their finished pots after spending the weekend firing them in a wood kiln outside Wightman Hall.

“It’s really exciting when we get to open (the kiln) at the end; it’s like an early Christmas,” Taylor said.

The art department fires up the kiln once a semester for a different pottery-making experience.

Kansas senior Megan McWhirter said the kiln, which runs off wood instead of gas or electricity, was running since 7 a.m. Friday.

“The experience and the outcome is always different — unpredictable,” said Utica senior Stephanie Galli.

A new experience

The students used a new kiln built over the summer.

The kiln is supposed to reach 2,200 to 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit to fire the artwork. Students and professors are not sure if it got hotter than 1,800.

Once the kiln reaches its maximum temperature, it starts the cooling process.

“We shut all the ports and all the doors and just let it slow cool for three to five days,” McWhirter said.

The kiln runs for 48 to 72 hours before the cooling process begins, but some artists may fire their work for five to ten days, she said.

At the end of the time period, students open the kiln to see their artwork. If the kiln does not get hot enough, the artwork has to be taken out and refired in a different kiln.

Students put in an average of 15 pieces and can have up to 100 at a time.

“You’ll probably like about three of your pots that come out of the kiln,” Taylor said.

Firing kilns is a regular part of classes for Central Michigan University pottery and ceramics students, who also make their own paints and clay.

“It kind of sucks if you screw up, but it’s good because you learn how to do it,” said Saginaw junior Todd Herzberg.

E-mail the author: Maryellen Tighe