Welcome to The Shilaroo Project’s Mountain Wood-firing Project conducted by Jann Kesby. This workshop provides a unique opportunity to amateurs to advanced potters, looking to explore and learn the ancient practice of wood-firing ceramics in a cross draft train kiln under the guidance of Jann Kesby.

Jann was born in Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia in 1954 where her workshop and kilns are situated. Jann’s relationship with clay commenced during the late 1970’s where she was working in a production workshop before moving to Sturt Craft Workshop, Mittagong under the guidance of Ian McKay. Jann is fortunate to be ‘old school trained’ as an apprentice in production
workshops. During this time she was introduced to exploring local materials, ash glazing and woodfiring. Jann has been firing kilns with wood ever since. Since her 45+ year career in clay Jann has participated in numerous wood firing kilns and currently has an anagama and catenary arch kiln. She has spent time in Japan studying and Golden Bridge Pottery, India.
Jann is exploring long firings in her anagama to build natural ash glaze and fires functional tableware in her catenary arch kiln. She is currently exploring clay bodies using local materials and decomposed granite.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

  

The Shilaroo Project is a Himalayan farm and studio space dedicated to practising and teaching Ceramics, Yoga and Natural farming located, just 8 km short of the town of Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh, India. Situated at 8,200 ft, the cross-draft train kiln is based on John Neely’s design to achieve aesthetics similar to Japanese Anagama kilns generating wood ash surfaces, while being fuel efficient. The kiln at The Shilaroo Project is made with a few adaptations to Neely’s design to accomodate the high altitude.

ITINERARY

Day 1

Arrival and welcome session at The Shilaroo Project where the participants will be introduced to the space and facilitators

Day 2

Glazing, waxing and cleaning of all bisqueware to prepare for loading

Day 3

Final loading and beginning firing

Day 4

Close firing and begin cooling

Day 5

End of cooling and unloading

Day 6 & 7

Finish cleaning, packing and discussion of results

Day 8

Breakfast and Departure

 

INCLUSIONS 

• All materials, including upto 4  glazes

• Minimum kiln space  5 cubic ft. per participant 

• Accomodation -

           Sharing 5 people, will be allotted on first come first serve basis. Check this link to learn more about the rooms -  Accomodation

           Private accomodation is also available in a hotel 5 mins walking distance from the studio. This is offered at an additional charge of 11,050 or total cost of 36,050. Check this link to view                   property - Hotel AAA

• All meals (Please note, we are purely a vegetarian kitchen. You are welcome to explore other options to eat out the nearby two local restaurants or by travelling to the next few villages as well. )

• Travel costs are not included in the workshop. However we are happy to help you plan your travels (Please read the last section of the mailer- How to get there, to learn more) and put you in touch with other participants.

 

REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

• All participants will be required to bring bisque-ware minimum of 5 cubic ft. 

• We also advise to bring any special packaging material you may need. 

• Incase you wish to courier your wares to your studio, the charges will be as applicable by the courier company. 

• The maximum number of participants will remain 10 per participants. The allotted kiln space will be alloted proportionate to number of participants.

HOW TO GET HERE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

By Air- The nearest airport to Shilaroo is at Jubbarhatti-20 km away from Shimla & Shilaroo is further 50 km. It provides the direct flights between Shimla and to Delhi. However, this specific flight route is unrealiable, We recommend taknig a flight to chandigarh.  

By Rail- The nearest broad gauge railway station is Kalka, at a distance of 152 km from Shilaroo. It is well connected with the key cities of India, like Chandigarh, Shimla, and Delhi, by regular train services. From there, taxis are easily available for reaching Shilaroo. Kalka to Shimla is 95 km and though the journey takes about 6 hours, the train winds its way through 103 tunnels and some picturesque scenery. Railcar takes about 4 hours. Kalka has direct rail connections with Delhi, Calcutta, and Amritsar.

From Mumbai by Train- 12217 Sampark Kranthi Exp Dep. Panvel (PNVL) 11.00 Arrival Chandigarh (CDG) 15.40. From Chandigarh to Shilaroo by taxi, the journey time is 5 hrs.
Other direct trains available Mumbai-Shimla/Kalka route can be found on the link below -
https://www.90di.com/trains/MUMBAI/SIMLA/

By Road- Shimla forms the major road link near shilaroo. There is no shortage of state-run buses from Shimla, to most of the key cities in and around Himachal Pradesh. From Shimla, it's just 2 hrs drive to Shilaroo and private taxis can also be hired. A drive from New Delhi will take over 8 hours. You have to follow the NH1 route to Ambala and then NH 5 to Shilaroo. Taxis, buses, and coaches are available at Shimla, and other places for individual and group excursions. From Delhi, Manali and Chandigarh luxury buses and Taxis ply to Shimla. The State Tourism Development Corporation also runs regular Tourist Coaches from Delhi.

 

REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Payments once made are non-refundable under any circumstances barring cancellations by the faclitators.

If you are unable to attend the workshop for any reason, your payment can be transferred to any upcoming workshop. This requires at least 10 days notice before the workshop start date, after which, 70 percent of the workshop fee will be transferred to a future workshop.

Any discount availed will not be transferred incase of a reschedule.

No Show Policy

Once your payment is complete and your slot is booked but you are unable to attend the workshop, and fail to notify us the same, your registration will be treated as a No Show. In this case, you forfiet the entire payment and will not be refunded or rescheduled for a future workshop. If you will be unabel to attend, you must notify us atleast 10 days in advance of the workshop start date. We can only accomodate you in future workshops with atleast 10 day advance notice.

Natural Disaster

If a workshop is postponed due to any natural disaster, the payments shall be adjusted towards the rescheduled workshop.

 

PACKING LIST
Shilaroo is likely to be pleasant during the day,  cold at night and early mornings during your stay here. Accordingly, we recommend that you carry:

• Motion sickness medicine for the last rung of the journey which is in the hills.

• A jacket and sweaters. Two sets in case one gets wet while walking in the rain.

• Umbrella. It can rain unexpectedly.

• Rain resistant and sturdy walking shoes.

• Track pants or other comfortable, easy-to-move-in organic clothes for Yoga class

• A pair of house shoes.

• Torch for evening walks.

• Water bottles for  and sun hats

• Any medication you need regularly — there are no chemists in the immediate vicinity • Something to write with, something to write on (notebooks and pens or laptops).

 

GUEST HOUSE GUIDELINES

The Shilaroo Project is an experiential Homestay, not a hotel. Also in the spirit of living a more mindful and environmentally friendly life. We request that you adhere to the following guidelines: 
• No smoking, drinking or use of illicit substances on the premises. 

• Please use water sparingly, and turn off the electric switches when not in use

• Out of respect for the other guests and the guest house staff, please clean up after yourselves in the common areas. This would include returning teacups to the dining area and keeping your belongings in an orderly fashion. Please take your belongings back to your respective rooms at the end of each day.

• Since you will be sharing a room with others, please be respectful of each other’s space and preferences.

• There will be set meal times. If you will not be eating lunch or dinner, please inform us at breakfast so the cook can make food accordingly.•We reserve the right to charge guests for the cost of rectifying damage which has been caused by the deliberate, negligent or reckless acts of guests to the project’s property or structure.