Femmes & Thems
Group wood/soda-firing at Cider Creek Collective (Albion, CA) in May 2025.
Femmes & Thems was the first firing organized by Dan Clauson and Jules Pierce at Cider Creek Collective. We wanted to invite our friends, who are all workers behind ceramic studios, to meet, collaborate, tend to each other, and reinvigorate our energy when it comes to clay. This space was built to be a nonhierarchical, financially accessible, and an equitable wood-firing for queers and non-cis men.
We are so thankful to Jess Thompson and Nick Schwartz of Cider Creek Collective, who offered to host our group. Their trust, generosity, guidance, reassurance, teaching, and care leaves us in awe every time.
Participants Included: Jules Pierce, Daniel Clauson, Charley Kuizin, Josie Rovengo, Andrea Hurley, Lyra (+bb Otis) Dietrich, Madeleine Hess, Paige Valentine, Meg Billingham, Azelia Mazur, Amanda, Lisa Mae, Lexi Bakkar (+ bb Rocco), Katie Applebaum, Katie Goode Donaldson, Ona Rynearson, and Summer Ester Orr.
Azelia, Lexi, Meg, & Jules unloading wood from Nick's truck. Photo by Katie Goode Donaldson
Nick demoing how to scrape bricks. Photo by Katie Goode Donaldson
Dan beginning to unload! Photo by Katie Goode Donaldson
legend Katie Applebaum in their legend car with legend car tattoo. Photo by Katie Goode Donaldson
Lyra's pots after unload
Holding Dan's hands. Candlesticks by Jules
Lisa Mae and Amanda with their pots!
Jules' hand on an unloaded plate
Meg cutting up Watmaugh strawberries for dinner
Dan and Katie Goode during the kiln cooling
Our kiln. Dog drawings by Jess, door painted by Jules
Dan & Paige prepping the soda boards
Neighborhood dinner! Playing games with Archer & Phoenix
sweet Nami
Azelia and Lexi singing songs in the parking lot
Lyra and baby Otis with Paige, Jules, and Dan
Dan doing good!
Katie Goode and baby Rocco
Charley's pallet on the kiln wall
Meg and baby Rocco
Dan mimicking Azelia's creature/kiln god
polaroids of Summer & Jules
Meg & Summer loading the kiln
Paige, Summer, Katie Applebaum, Dan
Jacob at dinner!
Lisa Mae blowing bubbles for the babies
Summer cooking a beautiful dinner
Josie, Lyra & baby Otis, Paige, and Charley
Summer harvesting Forget Me Not's in their Flower Slut hat
Trying to get Nami to pose for the photo!
Jules holding butterfly wings they fired in the kiln
Paige and her baskets
Paige's figure. Photo by Summer Ester Orr.
Kiln stack after firing. Photo by Summer Ester Orr.
Unload. Photo by Summer Ester Orr.
Photo by Summer Ester Orr
Meg's kanteen with Jules and Meg in the background. Photo by Summer Ester Orr.
From Left to Right on Top: Jules, Lexi, Madeleine, Jess, Phoenix, Nick, Amanda, Archer, Lisa Mae, Andrea. From Left to Right on Bottom: Azelia, Dan, Summer, Meg, Paige, Josie, Lyra, Charley. Not pictured: Ona, Katie A & Katie G
Charley, Jules, Dan, and Paige & baby Otis
Queens Amanda and Lisa Mae
Lyra, Meg, Dan, Summer, Andrea, Josie, Jules, Paige, Charley
Nick, Jules, and Dan at kiln shut down.
Top: Andrea, Ona, Jules, Dan, Nick, Charley Bottom: Paige, Josie, Azelia, Lisa Mae, Amanda
Jules and Dan :-)
our draw rings after soda (on right) compared to past kilns (on left)!
Jules throwin wood
Jules and Azelia
Jules
Meg, Jules, Dan, and Paige. Photo by Summer Ester Orr.
Jules. Photo by Summer Ester Orr.
Dan. Photo by Summer Ester Orr.
It's loaded! Photo by Summer Ester Orr.
Lighting ceremony. Jules, Dan, and Jess in the background. Azelia, Rocco, and Lexi lighting the kiln since it's their first firing.
Photo by Madeleine Hess
Neighbors at the unload. Photo by Madeleine Hess.
Photo by Madeleine Hess
Dan. Photo by Madeleine Hess.
Dan and Jules. Photo by Madeleine Hess.
Meg unloading wood off of Nick's truck. Photo by Katie Goode Donaldson.
Rainy wood prep day. L to R: Katie Applebaum, Summer, Dan, Azelia, Josie, Olivia, Jules, Charley, Nona. Disposable camera photo by Jules
Katie, Summer, Dan, Azelia, Josie, Olivia, Jules, Charley, Nona
Dan eating big toast in the kiln. Disposable camera photo by Jules
Charley and her flower offerings for the kiln. Disposable camera photo by Jules.
Kiln offerings. Disposable camera photo by Jules.
Summer making pancakes in the morning. Disposable camera photo by Jules.
This book belonged to Sonya Popow. Nick read some excerpts to us while we were firing.
Dan and Paige prepping soda. Disposable camera photo by Jules.
Dan in their firing gear. Disposable camera photo by Jules.
Paige and Azelia with the soda! Disposable camera photo by Jules.
Dinner with Charley, Jules, Meg, Dan, Azelia, Sully, and Len.
Meg and Azelia sealing the door with clay.