WINTER ADULTS: Raku Workshop with Erica Hood & Owen Roberts
Course Description:
Join Erica Hood and Owen Roberts for a workshop encompassing the full experience of making, glazing, and firing raku work. The workshop will culminate with a series of group firings of our raku kiln, re-introducing this process to our community. Erica and Owen will address the “what, how, and why” of making objects for a raku firing. They will also demonstrate a variety of glaze uses and application techniques that celebrate the unique potentials of this process. Finally, participants will join the duo in firing the work together as a group.
Raku firing is an ancient Japanese ceramics technique used to create unique finishes. Glazed ceramics are taken from the kiln while they are still glowing red hot and placed in a material that can catch fire, such as sawdust or newspaper. This technique creates a variety of colors within the glaze. Firing without glaze results in some areas having a matte black coloring.
Registration fee includes 12 lbs of raku clay, and all glaze materials and supplies. Registration will allow for at least one fired piece. More work may be fired depending on the number of participants and the scale of work produced. This workshop does not include studio access outside of scheduled workshop times/dates. Registration only available to students currently registered for a full Winter semester class, or the Independent Studio Program.
Mandatory Orientation Meeting
Friday, January 24th, 5:00pm-6:30pm, Room 201
Participants will learn the basics of what raku is, and how to make and prepare work for the March firings.
Glazing
Saturday, March 22nd, 11:00am-2:30pm, Main Studio/Glaze Studio
Erica and Owen will guide the group through glazing and decorating their work in preparation for the firings. Topics and demonstrations will address using tape and latex resists, creating pattern, and utilizing the matte black pallet of exposed clay.
Firing
Sunday, March 23rd 10:30am-3:00pm (rain date Sunday, April 6th), Back Patio
The workshop will culminate in a final firing day. The kiln will be loaded, fired and unloaded by the group. Participants will have a chance to see the full firing cycle, and discuss their results with Erica and Owen.
