Anagama Wood Firing at Clay Talk – Workshops & Kiln Access

Location: Clay Talk Ceramic Centre, Montsalvat (Eltham) Facilitator: Sergei Shatrov

Overview

This listing is for anyone wanting to:

✅ Learn the art of wood firing through hands-on workshops or

✅ Participate by placing your own ceramic work into the Clay Talk Anagama kiln

Whether you’re an experienced potter or new to atmospheric firing, this is a rare opportunity to fire work in a traditional Japanese-style kiln.

Why Wood Firing?

Wood firing is one of the oldest and most revered ceramic firing methods. The surface of each piece is shaped by flame, ash, embers, and time—creating:

• natural ash glaze effects

• glassy deposits and flashing

• rich colour variation

• completely unique results

Every vessel becomes a one-of-a-kind record of the firing—a patient, elemental collaboration between artist, clay, and fire.

The Anagama Kiln Story

The Clay Talk Anagama was built over six months under the leadership of Arts & Education Manager, Sergei Shatrov, with:

• 85 contributing volunteers

• 800+ hours of labour

• community donations and reclaimed materials

The result is a traditional cross-draft Japanese-style wood kiln that now sits proudly on the grounds of Montsalvat. It has become a centrepiece of Clay Talk’s educational and artistic programs, offering workshops and public firings throughout the year.

Firing Schedules & Access

Firing types vary across the year and may include:

• Hands-on wood firing workshops with Clay Talk staff or guest artists

• Kiln space access only for artists who wish to drop off bisque-fired work

Upcoming sessions and inclusions will be listed in each event. If you have a group or a body of work you’d like fired, email us to discuss future firing dates.

How Many Pieces Can I Fire? – Pricing Options

All work must be bisque fired and suitable for high-temperature wood firing.

Option 1 – Full Participation / Workshop Model

Learn the wood firing process from start to finish:

• Assist with packing, stoking, shifts during firing, and unloading

• Suitable for individuals or group bookings

• Attendance at one full firing shift minimum (not all shifts required)

Price:

• $250 per person – includes up to 1 milk-crate volume of work, or one large piece

• $150 per person for groups of 5+ (unlimited group size)

Option 2 – Drop-Off (Milk Crate Volume)

• Drop off as many bisque pieces as fit into a standard milk crate volume Price: $100 per crate

Option 3 – Drop-Off (One Large Piece)

• Maximum height: 60 cm Price: $100 per piece

Option 4 – Full Kiln Hire

• Private firing of the Anagama kiln

• Includes timber, crew, shelves, wadding, and firing labour Price: Upon request

Participation vs Drop-Off Only

• Workshop participants will take part in packing, firing, and the kiln opening.

• Drop-off participants are welcome (but not required) to attend parts of the firing schedule or the kiln opening.

Please note: Finished work must be collected at the time of unloading. Work not collected within 7 days may be sold or disposed of to cover handling and storage costs.

Why Does Wood Firing Cost More?

Wood firing is labour-intensive and fuel-intensive. Organising timber, kiln shelf materials, and firing teams requires significant time and resources. Fees help support:

• fuel procurement

• kiln operation and maintenance

• staff labour over multiple days and nights

We keep pricing as accessible as possible while honouring the huge amount of work and expertise required to run these firings.

Questions About Wood Firing?

Email Sergei directly: claytalk@montsalvat.com.au

About Sergei Shatrov

With over 31 years of experience, Sergei is a passionate ceramic artist, wood firer, and educator. He has studied across NSW TAFE systems and at the Australian National University’s School of Art, before travelling extensively in Japan and the USA to refine his knowledge.

Born in Sydney to Ukrainian-Russian heritage, Sergei now lives in Melbourne and is the Lead Artist & Coordinator at Clay Talk Ceramic Centre. His knowledge, generosity, and lifelong dedication to clay make every session both inspiring and deeply enriching.

Important Notes – Please Read Before Booking

Clay Talk reserves the right to cancel or postpone the workshop if:

• The minimum number of bookings is not reached 7 days prior to the start date of a workshop

• A health directive requires isolation prior to or during the workshop

• There is a sudden change in fire danger conditions or advice from authorities

In the event of postponement due to fire danger or weather conditions, the workshop will be rescheduled—likely in Autumn (March/April).

Upon booking, please ensure you have read Clay Talk’s Terms & Conditions and Conditions of Entry.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

To secure your place in a class, course or workshop we require full payment at the time of booking.

Bookings are only accepted through our online portal at www.

Payment of class, course or workshop fees can only be made through our online portal at  www.

ACCESS

Clay Talk studio is located on the grounds of Montsalvat. For this reason, there are security measures in place to prevent trespassing and maintain your safety. Upon booking you will receive an Information Kit which has instructions on how to access Clay Talk studio. Please read this before coming to class.

REFUNDS / ABSENCE / TRANSFERS/ CANCELLATION

• We do not offer refunds if you change your mind after you have made the booking. Please be sure you are able to commit to the class, course or workshop dates and times prior to booking.
• Transfers are done upon email request and subject to available spaces only. Failure to transfer successfully will mean receiving a credit note or being transferred to a later term of the same class.
• If you are unable to attend a class, please contact us at claytalk@montsalvat.com.au on the day of your class. In exceptional circumstances, we can make alternative arrangements to compensate for lost class time.
• Retrospective requests (a request for a make-up from last term for example) for class make-ups are not accepted. We request you make contact via email or phone to Clay Talk as soon as you can’t make class so that we can make alternative arrangements for you.
• Clay Talk reserves the right to cancel a class due to unforeseen circumstances such as insufficient enrolments or illness or for maintenance works. You will be notified prior to the class if cancellation of the class is deemed necessary, or if there will be another date scheduled, or if a pro-rata refund will be provided.

ILLNESS

If classes and workshops are cancelled due to illness of a tutor, and the inability to find a suitable replacement, Clay Talk will endeavour to provide rescheduled dates for classes and workshops.

In the event that students cannot attend the rescheduled classes, students must email claytalk@montsalvat.com.au as soon as possible prior to the commencement of the rescheduled class or workshop.

If a student is unable to attend the rescheduled classes or workshop Clay Talk may, at its absolute discretion, provide either a credit note, or a pro-rata refund (minus an administration fee of 10%).

 GIFT VOUCHERS

Gift vouchers are only available through our online portal www. Gift vouchers can be purchased for a minimum of $20 and are valid for 3 years from purchase.

Gift vouchers can only be used for booking classes, courses and/or workshops at Clay Talk through our online portal. Gift vouchers can be applied at check out when booking a class, course or workshop.

FIRING OF WORK 

Most workshops and classes include firing and glazing of a specific number of pieces. Check the workshop listing description on our online platform.

We take extreme care with your work however accidents do happen, and we are unable to guarantee fully that your work will be successfully fired. Clay Talk takes no responsibility for failure or breakage of work.

Term classes:

Firing of 2.5kg of finished work per student is included in the term class fee.

Students can make and fire more work over this limit however additional charges apply.

Students must label each of their pieces with their Makers Mark (your Makers Mark is made up of the initials of your first, middle & last name and your class code e.g. John Adam Smith = JAS). No Makers Mark could mean losing your pieces.

If a kiln shelf is badly damaged from your work due to materials brought to Clay Talk from elsewhere, you will be charged for the cost of replacing that shelf.

Incorrect glazing or wrong clay body type in the wrong firing type will incur a penalty fee for damages.

• If your work damages the interior walls, burners or elements of the kiln, you will be required to pay for the damage to be determined by the Clay Talk Studio Manager.

COLLECTION OF WORK

• Firing, glazing and packaging of your work takes approximately 2-4 weeks after your class/workshop.
• You will be notified by a written or digital notification, an email, or the Clay Talk Newsletter when your work is ready for collection.
• Clay Taster & Kids School Holiday programme students have 30 days to collect their pieces from the time they received notification of their pieces to be collected before uncollected works are repurposed elsewhere.
• Non-returning term student work must be collected on the last Friday before term classes begin.
• Non-returning term students must talk with their teachers to understand the process of collecting their work and clearing student shelf items on the last day of their class. 
• Uncollected works, bisqued pieces, items on student shelf including tools and clay - unless the student notifies staff at Clay Talk that they wish to make alternative arrangements to collect their work - will not be guaranteed safe keeping or storage and will be re-purposed.
• EMAIL / SMS NOTIFICATIONS
• Clay Talk takes no responsibility for students not reading or checking their messages, emails or checking their spam/junk mail regarding work collection.