Raku Firing

Tuesday, May the5th 09
The students of the Creative Ceramics Course had their second Raku firing today with Rainer Marcinkovsky at Colaiste Stiofain Naofa.
Raku is an experimental firing technique first developed in Japan. The glazed ceramic work is fired to end temperature ( here1050°C) and taken out of the kiln when red hot and reduced in sawdust. The glazes crackle and vary in colour and effect while the body turns black. The technique is very immediate and gives participants the opportunity to experience the process of firing directly.
Two firings were fitted into a busy day and the ware included small vessels, wall pieces and sculptures. The most successful pieces can be seen at the end of year exhibition ‘In The Now’ opening on Thursday night, the 21st of May.