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The FireTribe Petal kiln is the passion project of clay collaborators Jill Lipoti and Kimberly Muller.
And it all began with an article in Ceramics Monthly and a post it note that said, "We should do this!"
Twelve months later we've got a kiln and are planning our first fire!
We have been exploring the transformative nature of fire for a few years now and have found that not only is the process transformative for the clay but for us as well. Many cultures believe fire symbolizes transformation, purification, or renewal, so gathering around it can feel meaningful. It puts everyone at roughly equal status and distance, which makes talking and listening feel easier and more natural. So, while we love the process of putting our pieces directly into the flame it is the nurturing of community that really inspires us.
When we first saw a video of a petal kiln firing we realized that it had to be the next step in our evolution. It was time to gather our tribe and go big!

"Nina Hole, the pioneer of “fire sculpture”—large, outdoor ceramic sculpture that was fired in situ as performance pieces. These performances were quite dramatic as Hole removed the insulating fiber blanket that wrapped the pieces midway through the firing to reveal the glowing pieces within. Hole inspired many and her legacy lives on today with contemporary artists who are exploring and expanding on her ideas."
"In Star, North Carolina, Estonian kiln master Andres M.I. Allik has been working for the past four years with ceramic artists from around the world at STARworks to design and build a sculpture kiln that can be used for both sculpture reveal performances (where the kiln is dismantled at the end/during the firing to reveal the hot, glowing sculpture), but also as a versatile kiln that can be used to fire large-scale ceramic sculptures easily and safely with conventional cooling." - Ceramics Monthly

Jim, a local welder, was a wonderful collaborator, really invested in the design and functionality of the kiln.

The frame was delivered to us on November 19, 2025. We had a huge celebration!

The kiln comes apart for mobility and easy storage.

After the welding was done our next task was to attach Ceramic Fiber to each of the petals.

150 bisque fired "buttons" were wired through the fabric and twisted around the frame.

All petals complete!
Ready for the next step.

Fire bricks for the kiln firebox, gifted from a fellow potter dismantling his woodfire kiln.
"Ceramic artist Michael Sherrill created the fire sculpture for Firefest 2019. The sculpture was revealed once it reached peak temperature. Firefest is a two-day celebration of art created with fire. Firefest is typically held in April at STARworks in Star, NC. Guest artists in glass, ceramics and metal are invited to hold lectures, perform demonstrations and create sculpture."
"Internationally renowned artist Sergei Isupov, in collaboration with Andres Allik of Estonia, will built and fired the first petal kiln in New England. A unique spectacle, the petal kiln opens at the peak of firing to reveal the massive ceramic sculpture, called the Earth & Sky fire sculpture. Isupov's Earth & Sky fire sculpture will be the centerpiece of TurnPark's Annual Summer Festival."