What is Raku?

Raku is a term used to describe a firing process as well as a type of low-fired pottery. Its roots lie in 16th century Japan and is intrinsically aligned philosophically, aesthetically and culturally to Zen Buddhism, traditional tea ceremony and tea ware. Raku pottery and ‘tea ware’ is characteristically organic in form and a visual embodiment of Wabi: restraint, harmony, simplicity, transience and irregularity. Western style raku is distinguished by its ‘no-rules’ approach to making, glazing and firing, with only the fast-firing and fast-cooling methods remaining a constant.


What makes Raku popular?

Lustrous glazes, ‘naked’ raku, glaze crackles, smoke, flame and the thrill of the post-firing ‘reveal’. The advent of electric and gas kilns, digital controllers and restrictive council by-laws has diminished the opportunity for potters and hobbyists alike to to learn/experience the science (and wonder) of temperature and atmosphere working in tandem to effect change in clay bodies and glaze surfaces. The rapid firing and cooling allows for an ‘instant’ results. We surrender ‘control’ and embrace ‘chance’.

What happens at a Raku Firing Workshop?

Raku firing workshops are fun, communal and engaging affairs. They are conducted outdoors and can be subjected to the vagaries of weather. Participants bring along their work, share, discuss, glaze, fire and learn from one another. The workshops offer theoretical and experiential learning opportunities in glazing and kiln firing. Smoke …so if you have a respiratory condition Raku firings may not be for you.