The Cochise College Pit Fire Pottery Festival, a community event celebrating art, music and food, will return to the Douglas Campus on Friday, November 15, at 5 p.m. Now a longstanding 
tradition, the festival draws attendees from across Cochise County and neighboring states. This year’s festival will be an evening of art collaboration, entertainment, and a spectacle of blazing fire that will light up the festivities.
At the heart of the festival is the firing of hundreds of ceramic pieces crafted by students from the college’s ceramics program and community members. The pieces are fired using the ancient method of pit firing, a technique passed down by indigenous people and dating back thousands of years. The Pit Fire Lighting, the main event of the evening, is set to take place at approximately 6:30 p.m. As the fire develops, the ceramics are baked in a dramatic and visually stunning display of an art structure.
Ceramic pit firing is the oldest traditional method of firing clay. As participants gather for the Douglas Campus Pit Fire, the firing of ceramic art in the ground will again engage students and attendees in the traditional method.
The festival, which began in 2005 through the collaboration of instructor Tate Rich, has grown into a featured event that connects the college with the community. Skilled artisans from Mata Ortiz, a pueblo in Mexico, originally shared their pit firing techniques with the college, and this cultural exchange continues to inspire the festival’s attendees.
The public can also enjoy a wide range of activities throughout the evening. Local band RockUs will provide live music, and several artists will create art in real-time, offering festival-goers a chance to witness creativity in action. Several college clubs will host fundraising booths, selling food and crafts, with artists showcasing and offering unique pottery and art for sale.
For a minimum $10 donation, guests can receive a handmade ceramic bowl, valued at $36, which can be filled with soup from the college’s Culinary Arts program. Soup options include Vegan Pozole Rojo, Chicken Stew, and Green Chile Verde, served with either cornbread muffins or an oat roll. Donations support art scholarships, and nonperishable food items for the Cochise Cupboard food pantry are also welcome.
The Pit Fire Festival brings people together. It’s a celebration of art, community and collaboration.
The evening will conclude with a fireworks display. Complimentary earplugs will be available, and attendees are reminded that this is a drug, alcohol, and tobacco-free event. Pets are not permitted, with the exception of service animals.
For more information about the Pit Fire Pottery Festival, visit www.cochise.edu/pitfirefestival.
