Ceramics Kiln
Our Anagama Pottery Kiln is based on ancient Japanese designs and American inspiration. The 100 cubic foot kiln is fired using wood and waste vegetable oil as fuels, and consistently reaches temperatures of 2400 degrees F (Cone 10). A secondary chamber is used for soda-fired pottery, while the main chamber is reserved for traditional wood firing.
The kiln was designed and built by Preston and Sara Tolbert of Hemlock Pottery, with the assistance of alumni, staff, and students of Western Carolina University’s Ceramics Department.
We encourage both public and private use. Rental is open to schools, professional potters, general artists, hobbyists, groups of individuals, and more.
KILN FEATURES:
70 cubic feet: main chamber
Free-standing cubit feet salt/soda kiln
30 cubic feet: soda-fired chamber
Cone 10 temperatures (2400 degrees F); higher temperatures possible
Passive, down-draft design
Kiln rental includes access to the GEP gallery for product sales.
AVAILABILITY:
Dates for use must be secured at least 1 month in advance
Qualified *Fire Boss required for all firings.
(*) A Fire Boss leads the kiln-firing effort and gives direction to the group on placement of pots, temperature profiles and firing schedule. Several GEP approved potters offer services as a Fire Boss. Fees vary and are based on the size and scope of firing.
Potters experienced with wood firing can serve as their own Fire Boss.
CERAMIC KILN RATES:
Soda Chamber (30 cu ft) — $75
Main Wood Chamber (70 cu ft) — $150
Entire Kiln (100 cu ft) — $200
Kiln rental is calculated at roughly $2/cu ft and does not include fuel. Renters can bring their own wood, or purchase wood from the GEP at market prices.
Glassblowing Studio
The GEP hosts one of the only hot shops in the world which uses landfill gas as a renewable, carbon-neutral fuel to heat the glory holes.
Our contemporary glass studio is available for rent on an hourly, daily or weekly basis to qualified glass artists. Using landfill gas allows us to offer professional quality working studios at a very reasonable cost.
HOT SHOP FEATURES:
1100 sq ft hot shop
400lb Stadelman electric furnace
Two glory holes fired on methane gas from the landfill
Two annealing ovens
Color box
Torches and tables
Pipe cooler
Garage
Hand tools – jacks, diamond shears, paddles, blocks, etc.
COLD SHOP FEATURES:
400 sq ft cold working shop
Diamond blade tile saw
Diamond blade band saw
Polishing arbor
Pumice/Diamond pad wheel
Dynafile
Wet belt sander
Sandblaster
Two grit wheels
HOT SHOP RATES:
Hourly Rental
$32 per hour – 4 hour minimum*
Bulk Discount
$25 per hour – 40 hour block
*4 hour hot shop rental includes 1 hour of cold shop time
COLD SHOP RATE
$10 per hour
Metal Studio
The Metal Shop features the first blacksmith forges and art foundry ever fired on landfill gas. The studio spaces were designed and built by Master Blacksmith William Rogers, a respected professional with over 30 years of experience.
Our three forges typically achieve temperatures of over 2000° F, running on gas being harvested straight from the landfill. The GEP foundry has been successfully utilized for several bronze and aluminum pours.
We are a proud member of the Artist Blacksmith’s Association of North America (ABANA).
Studio rentals include use of all equipment and hand tools, free fuel gas and access to the GEP gallery for product sales.
STUDIO FEATURES:
2500 sq ft shop
3 gas forges operating on landfill gas
Coal forge
Foundry– bronze and aluminum
Plasma cutter
Dedicated welding area
2 Mig welders
Arc welder
Oxy/ acetylene torch
Fly wheel press
Drill press
Gantry crane
3 steel layout tables
Basic hand tools
Basic machining equipment (band saw, drill press, grinder, sandblaster, etc.)
BLACKSMITHING RATES:
Hourly Rental
$10 per hour – 4 hour minimum
Bulk Discount
$200 - 40 hour block