nities since 1997.

Melling / wrayton - september 1998

 

Raku as a Japanese word means ease, contentment, joy, happiness. As a ceramic process it involves firing pots relatively quickly and removing them glowing red hot from the kiln, with tongs, whilst the glaze is molten and then smoking in saw dust, and dousing in water.

It originates in Japan but is now widely used in a contemporary context as an exciting ceramic process. Participants of the project run by Green Close Studios, and artists Sue and Pete Flowers, Jo Collins, Paul Mason and Hugh Miller attended a series of making workshops followed by a weekend building and firing a wood-burning kiln along the banks of the River Greta at Wrayton.

Whilst learning a range of specialist skills the essence of the project was to emphasise the individual’s response to environment and sense of place within the Lune Valley. “Raku” which embodies a unique relationship of the elements Earth, Air, Fire and Water made this relationship to ‘sense of place’ unavoidable.

Workshops looked at the history of clay within the locality, drawing on local collections and expertise - the permanent collection of Lancastrian Lustre ware at the Peter Scott Gallery, Lancaster University and more importantly the history of the potteries at Burton-in-Lonsdale.

Dr Andrew White, local specialist on medieval and country potteries added greater depth to the project by bringing examples of early ‘Burton-ware’ and talking of the social and craft practise of early potters in the valley.

The project culminated in the ‘firing’ which was a very full day spent wood-chopping, glazing, stoking, firing, reducing and celebrating.

The range of ceramic forms produced embody both the process of Raku and the unique experience of having the event in our locality.