Pit Firing Community Gathering                 Big Sur, CA 2023

Diggin the pit on Gamboa Beach

Offering a prayer to the Fire and guiding Spirits

A thumbprint vessel and prepared ceramics preheating around the fire

1st fire, built to provide coals and to preheat the pieces

The pieces added on top of the coals

Helpers tending to the fire

After building a second fire on top of the pieces and coming up to a 800 degree (F) temperature, the pit was covered to leave overnight.

24 hours after the first fire, the pit was ready to be uncovered

Excavating the tea cups

Helping hands of all ages contributed

With the help of a dozen community members, the locally-harvested clay was shaped into tea cups.
We gathered for a 24hr pit firing: preheating, loading, fire building, covering, waiting, revealing.