April 14, 2007 9:30 am to 3 pm. Raku Pottery Workshop Back by Popular Demand.

You all had a great time last December and asked for another one, so here it is.

Avalon Stained Glass School is pleased to announce the arrival of the Box Turtle Pottery School and their Mobile Pottery Studio to Hart County. Box Turtle Pottery School will be repeating Raku pottery workshop on April 14, 2007 at 100 Dave Wintsch Rd., Munfordville, KY rain or shine because it will be setup under cover.

This is a 4-5 hour workshop and is an amazing opportunity for anyone who wants to learn this ancient form of Japanese Pottery. It will be taught by the one and only Rebecca Denman. The workshop will start at 9:30 am.CT. Registration is 8:30 am CT.

Rebecca Denman has been a potter for over thirty years. She has worked extensively with children from inner cities such as Chicago, St Louis and Indianapolis. She worked in pottery teaching at the Indianapolis Childrenís Museum. She has taught pottery to adults and children alike over the years and has been teaching the past four years at “Art Columbus” in Columbus Indiana. She lives on a farm with her husband and teenage children.

Her classes inspire and empower individuals to pursue the craft of pottery whether you are a young person or “on in age” who would like to study an art form. Her multitasking abilities and calm nature build confidence in her students and inspire them to pursue pottery as a permanent hobby or re-inspire a new beginning for adults toward creative possibilities.

The fee for this great artistic opportunity is only $49.00 per person and pre-registration is limited and required. All checks must be made payable to Trade Resources Unlimited and sent to Arlene Wright-Correll at 100 Dave Wintsch Rd. Munfordville, KY 42765 no later than March 15, 2007. Any questions please call 270 524 9567.

We have arranged a special price of $39.00 for any student from the Dec. 2006 Raku workshop provided they bring a new attendee with them at the regular price of $49.00.

Click here for the registration form.

Rakuyaki or Raku is a form of Japanese pottery characterized by low firing temperatures (resulting in a fairly porous body), lead glazes, and the removal of pieces from the kiln while still glowing hot. In the traditional Japanese firing process, the pot is removed from the hot kiln and put directly into water or allowed to cool in the open air. Raku is considered the traditional method for creating bowls for the Japanese tea ceremony. Raku tea bowls are hand-made from earthenware, each with a unique shape and style.

The term raku is derived from the Kanji character meaning “enjoyment” or “ease”. For fifteen generations, it has been the title and seal used by a dynasty of potters whose work formed the central tradition of Japanese raku. In the 16th century, the first of these potters, Chojirō ,,came under the patronage of the Japanese tea master Sen-No-Rikyu. In 1598, the ruler Hideyoshi bestowed the name Raku on Chojirō after he began making tea bowls to the great tea masterís specifications. Upon the death of Chojirō in 1592, his son Jokei continued the raku tradition. Both the name and the ceramic style have been passed down through the family to the present.

Raku ware marked an important point in the historical development of Japanese ceramics. With the formal recognition of raku potters in the late 16th century, the Japanese artist-potter first emerged from the anonymity of the general craftsman. Other famous Japanese clay artists of this period include Donyu (1574-1656), Honíami Kōetsu (1556-1637) and Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743).

Here are the pictures from our December 2006 workshop.

Contact us if you are interested in another Raku workshop. avalonsg@scrtc.com and let us know.