Testing Oven

In October 2022, Sarah helped work on Veronica Tran, Gabriela Garcia and Julia Bertoloso’s exciting project Testing Oven as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival at Testing Grounds. 

Along with others, she helped construct the temporary structure out of bricks on site at Testing Grounds. You can make your own using the simple instructions here!

The testing oven was used to fire ceramic pots in a firing known as a Saggar firing, where pots are fired within containers that are stuffed full of combustible materials which mark the clay as they burn away. 

Sarah hosted the free Making a Mark workshop, where participants made their own pinch pots and layered them amongst food waste scavenged from the Queen Vic Markets next door. 

The Testing Oven was also used to bake bread and other foods, as a communally accessible activity.

Enabling members of the public to create their own structures through the building of the oven, this project was an opportunity to also build networks with other likeminded individuals and transform public space into something that brings people together.