Schedule

The 2025 Southwest Kiln Conference will be held on October 16 – 19, 2025 in Safford, Arizona. Register for the conference.

Here is a tentative schedule that is subject to change

Thursday

8:00 – 12:00 Collect firewood, learn about fuel selection and have a fun day in the mountains, Meet at Discovery Park Ranch House
2:00 – 3:00 Discuss finer points of kiln location, construction, firewood and other important info for firing, south of Discovery Park Ranch House
5:00 – 7:00 Group Dinner for participants (kiln bosses, presenters, demonstrators), Casa Mañana

8:00 – 10:00 – Check-in, Gherald L. Hoopes Jr. Activities Center
9:00 – 12:00 Morning Presentations, Lee Little Theater
- Intro, Andy Ward: 9:00 – 9:15
- Archaeology of the Gila Valley, Joe Bryce: 9:15 – 10:00
- Break: 10:00- 10:15
- Specular Hematite, Amy Hosterman: 10:15 – 10:30
- How to Make Hopi Blush, Wes Pruett: 10:30 – 11:00
- Break: 11:00 – 11:15
- Salado Pottery From Private Collections, Wayne Keene 11:15 – 12:45
12:00 – 1:00 Tour Mills Collection, Student Services Building
1:00 – 2:00 Afternoon Presentations, Lee Little Theater
- Ancient Pueblo Effigies Pam Herring: 1:15 – 1:30
- The Science of Salado Polychrome Andy Ward: 1:30 – 2:00
2:00 – 3:00 Lunch, campus dining hall
3:15 – 4:15 Clay collecting field trip, meet at Memorial Bell Tower
5:00 – 9:00 Open campfire discussion and pottery practice session Roper Lake State Park Campground

8:00 – 10:00 Check-in, in front of ranch house
8:00 – 9:00 Trade table (self service), ranch house
8:00 – 12:00 Pit Firings, south of ranch house
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch, box lunches available at signup
1:00 – 4:00 Pottery Demonstrations
- Laverda Lewis: O’odham paddle and anvil pottery – The Train Station
- Jim Cecil: Yucca paintbrushes and painting techniques – The Schoolhouse
- Rod Dotson, Bill Warner: flintknapping – Ranch House Back Porch
- Joules: Surface finishing techniques, burnishing, sgraffito, etc. – Ranch House Inside
4:30 – 6:30 Catered Dinner
7:00 – 9:00 Trade Blanket