The Climbing Kiln of Woolman Lane Film Review

Nestled in the small northern California town of Nevada City is the Climbing Kiln of Woolman lane. The fact that it is a climbing kiln sets at apart from it's electric and gas relatives. Climbing kilns reach temperatures high enough to fire ceramic pieces by having a large burning firebox on one end, and a chimney on the other. In between lies sections for the pottery to be placed. Since heat rises, these sections are angled up to ensure maximum efficiency. That is where climbing kilns get their name. In fact, it is the largest and oldest climbing kiln throughout North America. The Climbing Kiln of Woolman Lane is a film that perfectly illustrates the timeless techniques used by very few people in the world.

The video takes it's viewers through the three day journey that is it's the kiln's firing. The kiln is only fired twice a year, so when it comes time to fire, there are always plenty of eager artists ready to put their pieces inside. As always, people come from all over to not only finalize their ceramic work, but to witness the awesome biannual event. The video also explores many different aspects of the firing process. The kiln operators are shown loading the numerous ceramic pieces into the spacious rooms that are lined with kiln furniture to accommodate the diversely sized pieces. When it comes time to start the fire, the operators throw massive amounts of wood into the firebox to fuel the inferno. While it is being fired, they carefully monitor the temperature so there are hopefully no mistakes. To regulate the temperature they adjust the oxygen and fuel mixture via ports to the outside air. After all of the hard work from the workers, volunteers, and artists, the kiln can finally be unloaded. Many unique colors and textures are shown as a result of the natural wood burning process. Nearly everyone was simply enthralled by the results.

The video was an excellent showcase of The Climbing Kiln of Woolman Lane and what it is capable of. I am glad that I was able to see this video as it really opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities when firing my artwork. I hope that The Climbing Kiln of Woolman Lane will inspire other artists to seek out alternative firing methods as I have. Quite possibly, the video will motivate more artists to experiment with the use of climbing kilns and let people learn more about them.