The Pit Fire Pottery Festival will be held on Friday, Oct. 1, starting at 5 p.m. at the Cochise College Douglas Campus located at 4190 West Highway 80, Douglas, Ariz. This year, the festival will have an Ignite the Magic theme.
“Ceramic pit firing is the oldest traditional method of firing clay wares, dating back to the Mesopotamian era,” said Tate Rich, ceramics instructor. “Cochise County’s ancient roots can be traced through pottery shards found in archaeological digs surrounding the Douglas Campus.”
The free event will feature live music, performances, art displays, vendors and savory soup. While admission is free, organizers ask attendees to bring a non-perishable food item for the Cochise Cupboard (College Food Pantry). Juniper Djinn and Hypnotist Derek Ostovani will provide entertainment on the main stage. The headliner band will be Chris Kane Trio.
Ceramic artist Dale Miller was selected to design and create 1000 bowls for the festival. For $10, you can purchase a hand-thrown ceramic bowl to fill with a savory soup of your choice. All of the proceeds support the college’s art department and clubs that participate as vendors. Please be aware many vendors accept only cash and there are no ATMs on campus.
To make this year’s bowls, Miller decided to use the pinch pot technique. “It took a while to get a process,” said Miller. “I wanted to create an unconventional yet functional bowl for everyone to enjoy.”
The Pit Fire Lighting is scheduled to be around 7 p.m. A pit fire is an ancient method of “baking” clay placed in a hole or pit dug into the ground with a wood fire burning above, resulting in pieces covered in swirls of colors and patterns. Cochise College celebrates this technique with the Pit Fire Pottery Festival to celebrate the arts. Dry, windy and unstable weather may delay the Pit Fire Lighting.
Anyone needing an accommodation to attend should contact the Disability Services Office at (520) 515-5337 at least 72 hours in advance.
Visit www.cochise.edu/pitfirefestival or like the Cochise College Pit Fire Festival’s Facebook page for more information and updates.
