Raku (楽焼raku-yaki) is a Japanese term that refers to a 16th century technique and philosophy of ceramics and firing that became an integral part of the Japanese Tea Ceremony during that time. It encompasses the idea of cherishing the “imperfect”, or as it is referred to in Japan, Wabi-sabi (侘寂). Tea Bowls, or “chawan” were low fire glazed, quickly fired (as opposed to a typical firing), and “pulled” from the kiln while still hot. They would be allowed to cool rapidly in the air, which resulted in unpredictable, “Wabi-Sabi” glaze results… in the 1950’s, a then young Paul Soldner, American potter, began to introduce an “American method” of Raku, keeping the Wabi-sabi philosophy but creating more vivid and colorful glazes than those which had been used traditionally in Japan. Pieces would be “smoked” or “oxygen reduced” or simply, “reduced” after being pulled, to create the wildly unpredictable and striking metallic colors that we see in much of the raku pieces today. -l. gascogne
Pics/ video by l. gascogne
Below: JCCC CERAMICS STUDENTS RAKUING
Jane did a GREAT job pulling a LOT of pieces for the raku firing!Sam Davis’s students watch in amazement as pieces get pulled from the hot kiln during the Raku process Sam Davis’s Ceramics class participates in a raku firing process.
1/17/17: NEW CERAMICS WORK
This Past First Friday, (NOV.FIRST FRIDAY, 2016) JCCC Student work was invited to be shown at the Wallace Engineering Firm in KC at 18th and McGee. Special thanks to Crystal Anton (JCCC Sustainability leader) and her husband who works at Wallace Engineering, for inviting us. Congratulations to the many students whose amazing work looked GREAT in the Space!!!
(Above and Below:) Beautiful and diverse Jewelry/ Metals pieces were a highlight in the entry space of the show.
Macy LaMasney’s rakued figure was near the front of the highly visible corner space.Devon Dewey’s photos were amongst the impressive photo submissions in the Student Show on First Friday at the Wallace Engineering Firm.
We are so proud of the Students and Staff who put this show together in such a TIGHT time frame. It looks awesome:
Kyle Kempker’s Sustainable Sculpture piece is almost alive, beckoning like a fluid dragon or morphing map in contrast to the lifeless, stark brick and concrete background to this stairwell next to the Student Center.Laura Averill’s cob-made (clay, straw and sand) sculpture “Economy”, part of the JCCC student Sculpture Sustainability Project, addresses the concerns of GMO’s on honeybees and their importance of bees in the food chain. The piece, inherently impermanent, revealed the fragility of this aspect in our environment. It survived Spring and part of Summer 2016, and was located on the South side of the Regnier Center Bldg. on the East side of JCCC campus.Megan Strohl’s sculpture “Choices” (mixed media) displayed near the ATB building is part of the JCCC Sculpture Sustainability project. Students compete to participate in a Sculpture project that has to be made from sustainable/ recycled materials and address current issues about the environment.New glazes in Ceramics mean new colorful test tiles that students can reference when making glazing decisions. We look forward to seeing the student work with the NEW glazes.(Above and below): Sculpture students take advantage of using lab hours wisely to get work done!
