This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Discover the Joy of Raku Firing with Denis Licul at Clay Art Center

    
Discover the Joy of Raku Firing with Denis Licul
Sunday, March 30, 10am – 4pm
Sunday, April 13, 10am – 4pm
Limited to 5 Students

Fee: $100 members; $110 non-members

*registration closes 2 weeks before workshop date

 Raku means JOY and Raku firing can best be described as a happening.  Discover the mystery of this unique Japanese, sixteenth century firing technique and find out why some of the most appreciated bowls used in Zen tea ceremonies are fired in this technique. In a small group of 5 students learn about Raku glazes, stains, firing process and post firing reduction. Bring 5-6 medium size pots (high fire or Raku clay), dress appropriate (long pants and sleeves) and prepare for team action!  (see below for details)

Denis Licul is a Croatian ceramic artist and exhibits internationally.  She received her BFA in Fine Arts from the University in Rijeka, Croatia.

 Instructor’s notes:

What to bring: 6-8 small bisqued pieces*, glaze brushes, green scrubby/brillo pad and a notebook/pen for notes and a bag lunch. We will provide glaze and wax resist in the studio.

*Please do not bring large bowls, plates, or very tall pieces as they will not fit in our Raku kiln. The ideal height is  6 – 8 inches. This insures that everyone will participate in each firing throughout the day.  The best is to have a variety of work: some small (not smaller than 3"), some tall and narrow up to 12" and not more than 4-5" in base, bowls 5-6" in diameter.  We can fit some tiles or plates per kiln up to 8" (Denis places them standing vertically). Our raku kiln is 18" in diameter and each firing fits max 12 pieces (1-3 pieces per person per firing) depending of a size, and we do 4 firings throughout the day.

Clay: Commercially prepared Raku clay is the best choice, but stoneware clay bodies are adequate.

The clay you choose for your pieces must be able to fire and cool quickly without breaking and be compatible with the glazes we use.  Your clay should have an open porous structure and should not vitrify at firing temperature.

What to wear: Please dress appropriately.  Wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, shoes and socks to protect yourself from sparks. Long hair must be tied back. Additional protective gear will be provided for you. All participants will assist in the loading and unloading of each kiln.

In case of rain: Denis will contact each student by phone to notify you of a cancellation. 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?