Repurposing terra cotta planters

Years ago, before building soil in the ground, I planted my first garden in 10 giant clay pots that look really beautiful in all those architecture and garden designer magazines. Those heavy, water sucking, heat absorbing, immoveable pots are a miserable choice for outdoor, dry climate gardening. Removing a plant from a dirt-filled mega-pot is nearly impossible without killing the plant, breaking the pot, or wrenching the spine. Definitely NOT a permaculture recommendation.
Does anyone have any brilliant ideas for using large clay planters that don’t involve planting inside the pot? Anyone have any interesting sculptural, building, or downright crazy ideas for repurposing giant clay planters? Anything goes, though I don't need a table base, and I sincerely appreciate any ideas.

Build a clay pot smoker or a grill.

Paint your house number on one.

Use one to hold garden tools.

Make a compost bin.

Turn one upside down with a tabletop on the base.

I am looking forward to other ideas.

Have you ever heard the thing about broken terra cotta pieces being an essential ingredient in terra preta (aka amazonian dark earth)? Not sure what it would really do but you could try that.

Firepit?
upside down, maybe 2 together, the coolest dog (or goat) igloo ever.
I use bigger broken pieces to edge my garden, and smaller smashed smaller on walkways (instead of gravel).

Sounds like they could be made into some truely giant ollas for watering your garden.

Amy, some actual pictures and photos would be helpful.

I've definitely used some large ones for ollas as William suggested. I find a large plate at a thrift store to cover them with. I've also used them with a light-weight pot inside and usually stick something in the bottom that can be a reservoir. We tend to have a long summer drought, so I use reservoirs wherever I can. The inside pot holds the water, but the clay can modify the hot day/cold night cycle the way a rock mulch can.

There's a tandoor oven - a sort of BBQ for Indian cooking that is made from large pots.