In November, the Jefferson Davis Community College Art Club sponsored its third annual Raku firing on the lawn of the Fine Arts Center.  Students, faculty, staff, and community members enjoyed an afternoon and evening of watching pottery being created from the sculpting stage to the firing stage and also enjoyed refreshments provided by the art club.

Raku Kiln Firing is a pottery technique with origins in Japan.  This process includes taking pots, still glowing red from being fired in the kiln, and immediately placing them in containers filled with combustible materials, such as sawdust, leaves, newspaper, etc.  The end result is a dramatically beautiful piece of pottery.

Carrie Johnson, JDCC art instructor and sponsor of the art club, conducted the firing exhibition with the assistance of Jim Gay, local community member and potter.

“It is no wonder that Raku is such a popular technique for pottery because what’s not to love about playing so directly with fire?” Johnson said. “I think everyone that participated enjoyed having a hands on roll in the making of their own unique piece of art.  There is something magical about discovering the unexpected results that can occur when the glaze surface interacts with the smoke and fire.”

Several pieces of pottery were available for sale.  Any community members who were not able to attend the firing exhibition and are interested in purchasing pottery, can contact Johnson at 251.809.1617.