THE FIRE ILLUMINATED THE CITY WITH CERAMICS

The 8th International Eskisehir Odunpazari Fire of the City Ceramic Firing Techniques Workshop, held from August 18-23, was organized under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Aysegul Turedi Ozen. The workshop illuminated the city with its fire, invited artists and guests, and various activities.

PROF. DR. AYSEGUL TUREDI OZEN 

Eskisehir Odunpazari Fire of the City Ceramics Gallery and Workshop Consultant

This year, the 8th International Eskisehir Odunpazari Fire of the City Ceramic Firing Techniques Workshop was held between August 18-23, 2025, under the consultancy of Prof. Dr. Aysegul Turedi Ozen and with the endless support of Eskisehir Odunpazari Mayor, Lawyer Kazim Kurt, who always supports art and artists.

This year's Guest of Honor at the workshop was Sema Gural Surmeli, Chair of the Board of Directors of Kutahya Porcelain Factories. The workshop began with Surmeli's heartfelt, sincere, and warm conversation on "Growing Up with Ceramics." Guest artists included Deniz Onur Erman from Ankara, Riza Tan Bugra Ozer, Emre Aydos from Izmir, Hasan Baskirkan from Istanbul, Mehmet Kutlu from Mugla, Emre Koc from Mus, Betul Aytepe Serinsu from Nevsehir, Emilia Emilieva Krumova from Bulgaria, and Katharina Böttcher from Germany.

The artists glazed their biscuit-fired works in the gallery courtyard, preparing them for firing. Raku, Sagar, Luster, Obvara, and Milk Firing techniques were employed in the Ceramics Gallery and its courtyard. Glazing continued throughout the day, with firings continuing throughout the night. The harmonious visual feast of the fire in the darkness of the night, and the smoke and warmth felt throughout the day, left their mark on the ceramics' visuals. The invited artists shared their knowledge and experiences, working in harmony with young volunteer assistants, gallery staff, and municipal employees. The workshop, which also engaged the public, featured visitors of all ages given clay tiles and asked them to create their own patterns. They also experienced the thrill of touching and shaping ceramic clay on a potter's wheel. During the workshop, they met with the invited artists, chatted with them, and witnessed the coloring stages of their ceramics.

The Ceramic Firing Techniques Workshop, a festival-like event featuring art, music, inspiring talks, and creative workshops, featured a ceremony held on its final day. Certificates of participation and workshop figurines were presented to the artists and assistants at the exhibition opening ceremony. The works, colored by the distinguished invited artists in the city's fire during the workshop and donated to the Odunpazari Municipality Ceramic Collection, were presented to art lovers at the Odunpazari International Fire of the City Ceramics Gallery.