Community One: Observations at the Governor's School

The 2001 Institute July 22-27, 2001 Erie, PA

RAKU WARE

"Through tea, recognition is given that every human encounter is a singular occasion which can, and will never recur again exactly."

History of Raku

Raku pottery is an artform that was developed over 400 years ago by the Raku family of Japan. It was originally used as teaware for the Zen Buddihst Masters, because they felt the process truly reflected the most fundamental rhythm of enlightened life.

Watch and listen as Jonathan Twersky of The Pennsylvania State Governor's School for the arts talks a little about Raku and its history.

Basic History 1

Basic History 2

Process of Raku

• A piece is first bisque fired

• The fired piece is coated with glaze (there is Raku specific glaze or you can experiment with underglazes, homemade recipes, and gloss glazes).

• The glazed piece is then placed into already hot kiln (1,800°-2, 000°F).

• The pieces are ready to be removed when they glow red and the glaze looks wet (BE CAREFUL!!!! The kiln is extremely HOT!).

• At this point there are two options:

• American Raku: Place hot piece into a reduction enviormnent. (eg. sawdust, leaves, pine needles) Allow smoke to clear and then plunge piece into a tub of water.

• Japanese Raku: Allow the piece to cool slightly before plunging the piece into a tub of water.

******Cracks will appear and some pieces will not make it through the entire process. Be prepared to experience loss with some of your pieces. The Raku process is now intended to be decorative as opposed to utilitarian because of the porus finish. Eventually the work will crack.**********

Raku: Jonathan talks about the process of Raku.

The Process : Watch as Jonathan as he demonstrates the Raku entire Raku Process.

Compare and Contrast

American Raku vs. Japanese Raku

The difference in these two very similar process' is found in the middle step.

American Raku places the piece in a reduction enviornment, which means that that the oxygen is pulled out. This environment allows the piece to take on a shiny black look, because the carbon in incorporated into the clay.

Japanese Raku removes the reduction environment. The clay is allowed to cool slightly before the water bath. These pieces tend to look more like "traditionally fired clay".

Raku Examples

Additional Web Sites of Interest

Raku History: This web site contains a comprehensive history of the Raku process. You will also find the phliosophy behind the process.

The Raku Family: This website explains the history behind the Raku family for which the process is named..

Tea House: This page will link you to the Philadelphia Museum of Art's reconstruction of a Japanese Tea House.

• 9.2A Explain the historical, cultural and social context or an individual work in the arts.
• 9.2C Relate works in the arts to varying styles and genre and to the periods in which they were created.
• 9.2F Know and use appropriate vocabulary social studies and the ars and humanities.
• 9.2G Relate works in the arts to geographic region: Asia and North America.