The Future Starts Here: Basic Fire Co-op Studio

 

Georgies' Basic Fire Cooperative Studio is a workspace where new and emerging artists can hone their skills, refine their crafts and build bodies of work for shows and sales. One of the more difficult challenges facing new artists is finding time and space to work, away from the distractions of home, family and friends. We created the Basic Fire Studio to address that challenge.
Imagine the possibilities: time, freedom and space to work at your own pace as you pursue your vision. The opportunity to network and share ideas or techniques with other artists. Georgies provides the space and heavy equipment like kilns, slab rollers and electric wheels. We also provide a limited selection of common glaze materials. You provide your personal tools, clay, other glazes, energy and ambition. It's a potent mix! Over the last three years we've seen some great work come out of Basic Fire.

Membership at Basic Fire comes in two forms, Level 1 and Level 2, with monthly rental fees. (At this time, we do not offer "open studio" time to people who are not Basic Fire members.) Level 1 members get 24/7 access to their own private, secure studio spaces. Level 1 members should provide their own equipment (wheel, slab roller, etc), but may also use the common studio equipment. Rent for Level 1 members runs $175 to $250 per month, depending on the size of their private studio spaces. Level 2 members work on a month-to-month rental basis. The rental fee includes use of common studio equipment. Advance deposits may be requested, and rent for Level 2 members is $125 per month.

Basic Fire Studio is open seven days a week from 7:00am to 11:00pm. Access is controlled by an electronic lock system, with unique codes entered for each studio member.

Monthly rent for both levels excludes firing fees, clay, raw materials, and other glazes besides those provided in the community studio supplies. All clay or supplies not provided will be offered to Basic Fire members at the ton rate or lowest catalog price.

We've found that the Basic Fire studio best serves the needs of emerging artists with intermediate to advanced levels of skill, who are also capable of working independently. Our store staff may be available at some times to answer some questions, but Georgies does not provide instruction or supervision at Basic Fire.

A momentary lull at the potters' wheels! Georgies provides up to four electric wheels for studio members' use. Georgies provides shelf space for works-in-process and personal lockers for tools, clothes, aprons or other supplies.
Basic Fire is friendly to sculptors and handbuilders as well as potters who throw on the wheel. Studio equipment includes an extruder, work tables, and a 24" Northstar slab roller.
Skutt electric kilns, capable of cone 6 oxidation firing, meet studio members' needs for bisque and some glaze firing. Kiln space is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and we encourage cooperation between studio members in using kiln time wisely. Firing charges at Basic Fire are only $12 per firing.
Do you prefer reduction firing? Or raku? Basic Fire offers kilns for both these firing techniques as well as electric oxidation. Charges for gas firings will be rated by the amount of fuel used, at $2.25 per gallon as recorded by a gas meter.
Georgies Ceramic & Clay • 756 NE Lombard • Portland OR 97211 • Homepage • 503.283.1353 • 800.999.CLAY • Fax 503.283.1387