DCC Raku Firing at the Freer Re-Opening on the Mall this Saturday night!
The District Clay Center will be doing a raku firing on the Mall as part of the Grand Re-opening of the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery this Saturday night, October 14th from 7 to 11 pm. We will be firing 125 Japanese style teabowls made by DCC artists and giving them away.
Raku firing is short and intense. It involves rapidly heating up pots to 1800 degrees in an portable outdoor kiln, taking the still hot pots from the kiln and quickly putting them into "reduction chambers" (aka, trash cans full of combustible materials) which then burst into flame and smoke. Once cooled, the pots are scrubbed to reveal amazing crackle and iridescent glazes.
Why raku, District Clay and the Freer Opening? Because raku ware, specifically teabowls, came from Japan and are one of the most important elements in the storied Japanese tea ceremony. There are some extraordinary black teabowls called chawan's in the Freer's renovated Japanese gallery - don't miss them. American ceramic artists took the raku firing method and expanded it to included a multitude of bright and often iridescent colors. These are among the most dramatic of ceramic wares and definitely the most exciting to watch being created.
The DCC firing is just part of an amazing array of activities that the Smithsonian is putting together for the big Re-Opening. Dozens of activities, from special eating experiences to shadow puppet making, calligraphy to making paper lanterns, will be going on. And there will be amazing lighting projections on the Freer itself that will be a sight to behold. To see a list, click here.
The District Clay Center will be doing a raku firing on the Mall as part of the Grand Re-opening of the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery this Saturday night, October 14th from 7 to 11 pm. We will be firing 125 Japanese style teabowls made by DCC artists and giving them away.
Raku firing is short and intense. It involves rapidly heating up pots to 1800 degrees in an portable outdoor kiln, taking the still hot pots from the kiln and quickly putting them into "reduction chambers" (aka, trash cans full of combustible materials) which then burst into flame and smoke. Once cooled, the pots are scrubbed to reveal amazing crackle and iridescent glazes.
Why raku, District Clay and the Freer Opening? Because raku ware, specifically teabowls, came from Japan and are one of the most important elements in the storied Japanese tea ceremony. There are some extraordinary black teabowls called chawan's in the Freer's renovated Japanese gallery - don't miss them. American ceramic artists took the raku firing method and expanded it to included a multitude of bright and often iridescent colors. These are among the most dramatic of ceramic wares and definitely the most exciting to watch being created.
The DCC firing is just part of an amazing array of activities that the Smithsonian is putting together for the big Re-Opening. Dozens of activities, from special eating experiences to shadow puppet making, calligraphy to making paper lanterns, will be going on. And there will be amazing lighting projections on the Freer itself that will be a sight to behold. To see a list, click here.
