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        History  and Process of Raku

Raku has its roots in Japan and is connected with the Japanese Tea Ceremony……a high honor between persons which is reflective of the Zen aesthetic. Chojiro, a Japanese potter, was given the task to make ware for this Ceremony (1573-1615). His forms were simple and elegant which were in keeping with the Zen nature of the Tea Ceremony.

 

Artists in the West  (myself included!) continue to experiment and explore  the process being captivated by the serendipitous nature of “raku”.

 

Raku ware is fired outdoors and is removed from the kiln when it is red-hot. The piece is quickly placed in a barrel with various combustible materials... following an immediate burn, the barrel is capped which creates an oxygen reduction atmosphere & produces extraordinary, one of a kind results.  SEE PICTURES BELOW!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT FIRING

Lots of flame is coming from the top of the kiln as it reaches temperature. Very dramatic! Excitement always builds at this point as the pots are nearing their readiness to be pulled and placed into their “nested” barrels for the reduction process.

Glowing, red-hot vases as seen shortly following the lifting of the raku kiln lid. I use long tongs to lift them one at a time for placement into their respective barrels. Shreds of newspaper form a fluffy nest in the barrel and, of course, it ignites immediately (see next picture!)

The vases have been placed in the barrels and combustion is very well underway!

 

I wear protective clothing, gloves and a bandanna on my head to maintain safety during this phase.

Moving quickly (but safely!), I am getting the barrel capped while there is intense flame burning so that the oxygen is cut off. Once the lid is in place, tremendous chemistry takes place within. Each piece is fired separately and reacts individually with this process, making each piece uniquely one of a kind.

Following a wait of at least 15 minutes, the piece can be removed from the barrel and the unique results can make themselves known!

 

FINISHED VASE