Raku
pottery workshop
What is Raku? When translated, Raku means pleasure, enjoyement,
happiness. It is the name given to a style or category of pottery
that originated in Japan over 400 years ago during the Momoyama
period (1573-1615). What distinguishes Raku ware from other
styles of pottery, say earthenware or stoneware, is the fact
that it is capable of being fired quickly to a low temperature
(approximately 1000 degrees), removed from the kiln instantly,
and allowed to cool quickly too! When
Bernard Leach attended a raku party (a group firing experience)
in 1911, whilst living in Japan, he was amazed that the pots
didn't break! It was this initial fun and entertaining experience
that inspired Leach to study pottery more seriously and to
return to England to start up the Leach Pottery in St Ives,
Cornwall, which became the epicentre for the Anglo-oriental
movement.
I
would like to provide a similar experience. You are invited
to decorate bisque ware with a selection of ready mixed glazes
using slip trailers and "queer long brushes". We
will fire the pots together in a kiln that I have built myself.
Once the kiln has reached temperature, the hot pots will be
removed with tongs and subjected to a post-glaze reduction
(a western innovation where the pots are placed in an atmosphere
starved of oxygen to burn out amongst sawdust, newspaper,
or even seaweed!) They can then be cooled, cleaned up, and
taken home.
Location:
Isles of Scilly Pottery, Newman House, the Garrison, St Mary's
Cost:
£20
Date and time: Monday 14th May, 2 - 5pm;
OR Thursday 17th May,
2 - 5pm.
Additional information: Everything is provided,
all that you need to bring is yourself.
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