Exhibitions and sales featuring guild members (generously organized by Kelley Stelling Contemporary) were held outdoors in 2021, 2023, and 2024. These events drew hundreds of clay enthusiasts and helped jumpstart fundraising efforts to expand the kiln shed and build a new kiln. Eric Maglio and Belinda Bodnar designed a large anagama and a smaller catenary arch kiln that can be fired together or separately. In the summer of 2023, a dedicated rotating crew cut hemlock posts and oak beams to double the kiln shed to 16’ x 64’. The old kiln was dismantled in May 2024, and construction of the new kiln continued throughout the summer under Eric and Belinda’s guidance, with major contributions from Lydia Grey, Al Jaeger, Barbara Sorce, Kurt Heinzman, and many others. Throughout the process, Rebecca Hillman organized generous potlucks that nourished the crew. The finished kiln measures 27 feet in length, with a 9-foot rise from the lowest fire ports to the base of the chimney.

In early September 2024, a group of 28 potters came together to load and fire the new kiln, aptly named Nakamagama, meaning “community kiln” in Japanese. Over the course of a four-day firing, using four to five cords of pine and oak, the team discovered the kiln to be predictable, understandable, and controllable. After a week of cooling, they unloaded 876 pieces - mostly spectacular pots and sculptures - marking a successful first firing and a significant milestone for the guild.

Since 2010, the New Hampshire Potters Guild has drawn wood-fire potters to Deerfield, New Hampshire, located about 26 miles inland from the seacoast near Portsmouth. The land, encompassing cultivated fields, gardens, forest, and pond, is carefully stewarded and protected under Bear-Paw Regional Greenways. This agreement ensures the guild’s permanent access to the kiln and surrounding areas for wood preparation, storage, and parking. Rooted in fellowship, collaboration, and encouragement, the guild continues to celebrate the art of wood firing while fostering a strong sense of community in this unique and cherished place.