Join us for our Anagama Kiln Firing this spring. Ceramicists will start glazing and loading on Friday, April 24 at 9:00 am. Firing will begin that evening and continue through Sunday afternoon, April 26. Unloading is the following Saturday, May 2. The lottery sign-up deadline for the Spring 2026 Firing is Thursday, February, 13, 2026.

Visitors are welcome to stop by and observe for free, but you must arrange your visit in advance with Rachel Dimenichi at rdimenichi@hambidge.org. Learn more about our kiln, firing schedules, and the firing process here. If you would like an email reminder before the deadline of each future Anagama lottery, sign up HERE.

The Hambidge anagama kiln was built in the early 1990s by Ben Owen III, a third generation Seagrove, North Carolina potter. It incorporates design elements of both a traditional Japanese anagama and a traditional southern groundhog kiln. The coming together of these seemingly distinct pottery traditions has played a part in the nicknaming of the kiln as the “Confluence Kiln” (gouryuugama in Japanese).

The kiln acts as the focal point for the coming together of diverse styles of pottery and sculpture, as well as the coming together of an ever-widening group of potters from throughout the southeast and across the country. With the beautiful grounds of the Hambidge Center as the background, the kiln provides a great opportunity for community building among clay artists while at the same time giving first-hand experience of the marvels of the wood firing process. The firing of the kiln over a three-day weekend provides potters with the unique opportunity to experience all facets of a wood firing.

Hambidge firings are scheduled twice a year and allow for 20-25 participant potters. The event is open to anyone who wants to learn more and see the kiln in action.

Interest in our anagama firings is high, so participation is determined in advance by a lottery. Click here to see when the next firing will be, sign up for the lottery, and view frequently asked questions.

Note: This event is open to the public. If you simply want to attend in order to watch and learn, you may do so for free, but you must arrange your visit in advance with Rachel Dimenichi at rdimenichi@hambidge.org or 706-746-7324.