September - October RAKU Workshop

(Class is now FULL, please consider other workshops)

Monday - evening Workshop: Sept. 14, 21, 28 Oct. 5, 12, Firing day Saturday 17th / 6:30p.m. to 8:30 P.M.

Ages: Adults 18 and up

Price: $295 for the 6 week workshop (this includes 22.5 LB bag of clay, glazes, supplies and firing.)

Raku is a form of Japanese pottery. Raku first appeared in medieval Japanese ceramics during the 16th century in the Momoyama period, around 1550. In the traditional Japanese firing process of raku, pots were first bisque-fired, then glazed and fired again. The crucial difference between raku pottery and other firing methods is that pots are removed from the hot kiln whilst still hot and are left to cool quickly in the open air.

Modern raku pottery was thought to have been introduced to Potters outside Japan by Bernard Leach. In 1911 whilst living in Japan Bernard Leach attended a raku pottery party. Those at the party painted their own pots and then fired them there and then at the party. The modern American raku ceramics movement began in the 1940s pioneered by Potters such as Hal Riegger and Warren Gilbertson. By the 1970s and 1980s raku had grown in popularity and become an art form practised by many studio Potters. 

In this unique yearly Bodhi workshop students will spend the first five weeks throwing forms on teh potters wheel and handbuilding forms. On October 17th students and the community are invited to participate in the all day firing process. Raku pottery is heated by an outdoor gas kiln and then cooled extremely fast sometimes by plunging them into a pot into water, sometimes by cooling naturally in the air, and sometimes by plunging into some kind of combustible material such as paper, straw or sawdust.

All bodhi tree students will be invited to a special Raku firing day on October 17th.

Spencer will reply within 24 hours of your submission.

Please call (570) 470-5572 with any questions.