Joan Carcia makes wheel-thrown and coil built saggar-fired pots. Influential potters with whom Carcia has studied include Juan Quezada (national treasure of Mexico), Michael Wisner, Makoto Yabe, Winnie Owens-Hart, and Susanne and John Stephenson.
Carcia describes the process as:
Saggar-fired. When bone dry, three or four coats of terra sigillata (the finest of clay particles) are brushed on each piece; the pieces are then polished and bisque fired to1751 degrees F (cone 08) in an electric kiln. After firing each piece is put into a saggar (a clay container) that contains sawdust and/or salt marsh hay (some of which has been mixed with oxides), seaweed, green hay and salt. The fuming of the combustibles, oxides and salt during the firing are absorbed into the porous clay body and produce the inspiring visual textures and colors. The saggars are fired in a gas kiln to 1587 degrees F (cone 012). This firing takes six to seven hours.
Finally the kiln is unstacked and the saggars unpacked; this is the most exciting part. I never know quite how each piece will come out; but I know each will be unique.
Other works by Carcia
Carcia in other collections
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Last updated: April 22, 2026
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