Raku Days is an event hosted by L&R Specialties Inc, a clay and ceramics supply store based out of Nixa, MO. Raku Days is a day where L&R set-up several kilns in their parking lot, and fire, fire, fire. It's a celebration of art, food and friendship. It is free to the public and everyone is welcome. You'll just need to bring a covered dish or dessert. They ask that you limit yourself to three pieces for the festival due to the sheer volume of people that attend. If you don't have any of your own pieces they have some on sale that you can buy. L&R provides everything from the glazes to the kilns, and workers who know the process and whats going on.
One of my favorite parts of Raku is the fact that it is very hands on, and somewhat dangerous. First, you need to have your piece already bisque fired. Below is a quick list of the process.
Steps of Raku Days:
Once you wax, glaze, and make sure your piece is fully dry and not too cold:
1.) Load the kiln, and fire! This step takes a minimum of 30 minutes to 45 minutes max. You should fire the piece till it is white hot.
2.) Turn the kiln off, open it up, and with a pair of tongs carefully remove the piece. Work quickly!
3.) Place it on another shelf standing in a washtub of water. Have a metal trash can with newspaper waiting for the next step.
4.) Flip the paper filled trash can over the piece, and hold it till the paper catches fire. When it does lower the trash can into the water, and a vacuum is formed. Hold the trash can down for about five minutes.
5.) After about 30 minutes you can take the pieces out of the trash can. Be careful, the pieces are still hot!
6.) Wash and clean your piece, you'll need to really scrub it, and you have a finished piece. The quicker you cool your piece the brighter the color is and the longer it stays.
Another of my favorite parts is you never know what to expect, there are so many factors in this process that you never know what you are going to get.
This was a good year for most of the people who went to Raku Days, myself included. I had one piece (a bowl on its side/candle holder) that I glazed but never fired from last year, and bought two small vases in the L&R store. I couldn't have asked for better results. I am very pleased with how they came out.
It turned out that I didn't know anyone at Raku Days, but that's one of the best parts, you talk with everyone, make friends, and hang out. At Raku Days there's always something to talk about. The food was amazing this year too, so delicious!!! In all the previous years I have gone to Raku Days I have never eaten. A lot of eye-candy was there too, everything is made better with a bunch of hot guys at an event, especially one in particular (very delicious). So, all in all, this was a great year!!!
I am already waiting and hoping for it next year...
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