torterena

Begin of November my friend Barbara used the opportunity that we had a sec day to organize a kind of Raku workshop. It's a Japanese style of pottery. In essence, Raku is when pots are taken from the kiln while they are still glowing red hot. Then they are put in a fireproof vessel filled with flammable materials like sawdust, hay or straw and then covered with this material. The created work-piece is heavily sooted after being taken out and is washed in water while being still warm and rubbed with steel wool as needed. Then the finished glaze surface appear. Due to the big differences in temperature a crackle network emerges on the glazed pottery product and a black staining of the ceramic surface shows on the un- glazed spots. The firing is usually outdoor because it produces much smoke and of course you are running always the danger to get into a conflict with your neighborhood. We had a lovely day and finished it with a tasty dinner prepared by Barbara. The only negative point, is was soooooo cold. Happily we could warm us up by the kiln and by drinking liters of hot tea.