Story
Forged by Fire
When it comes to crafting standout art pieces that shine, we often find ourselves caught up in the little details. We stare intently at the lines we’ve drawn to make sure they’re perfectly shaped, go back and forth on the best shade to dip our brush into, and sneak glances at the work of our peers to see how our own piece measures up.
While there can be beauty in perfection, there is also something special about relieving ourselves of expectations and embracing the uncertainties of the creative process. Raku, an ancient Japanese technique for firing pottery, asks us to do exactly this. As a result, we come away with stunning artwork that is uniquely its own in beauty and composition.
Raku dates back to the 16th century Momoyama period in Japan and has since spread in popularity across the globe. Traditional raku ware was most often used in Japanese tea ceremonies in the form of chawan tea bowls, but today we see raku ware take all kinds of shapes and sizes – from simple flower vases to elaborate life-sized sculptures.
Compared to standard pottery, raku clay is specially formulated to withstand the extreme temperature changes it experiences during the firing process. At Blackberry Mountain, our Art team pre-throws and bisque fires a range of pottery options for guests to choose from. Once a piece is selected, it’s time to pick up a brush and start glazing.
From deep reds and vibrant greens to soft blues and stark whites, there is a wide range of raku glazes to select from in the Art Studio. Guests can opt for an entirely freeform approach to glazing their piece, or work with stencils and tape to help guide their creative vision. While guests are glazing, the Art team sets up the kiln and reduction chambers by hand.
A special type of kiln, known as the Bracker Kiln, is built on a base of cinderblocks and fire bricks and features an elevated shelf for the raku pieces to sit upon. The structure is covered with a reinforced ceramic fiber blanket that is held together with fence wire and a trash can lid for easy lifting, as well as cut-out holes for heat flow.
The kiln glows a warm orange as a propane burner begins to fire the pieces. As the low temperature is rapidly increased over the course of an hour or two, the cut-outs offer a glimpse into the pottery’s transformation from its original state to bubbling and red-hot.
Once the firing process is complete, guests have the option to remove the piece from the kiln themselves or request assistance from the Art team. Oven mitts, goggles and a face mask are worn for protection as the lid is removed, and tongs are used to transfer the pottery from the kiln to the reduction chamber.
Reduction chambers are metal containers, such as trash cans, that have been filled with combustible materials like newspapers and straw. Once the pottery makes contact with the combustible material, it ignites and releases a dark cloud of smoke. The lid to the reduction chamber is promptly closed, cutting off oxygen.
As the fire and smoke interacts with the glaze, the piece takes on its unique form, adopting different colors, finishes, cracks and other features determined by its own position in the reduction chamber and interaction with the materials. Unglazed areas turn matte black, a signature characteristic that distinguishes raku ware from other pottery.
After it's removed from the reduction chamber, the pottery is submerged in water. Once it has cooled, guests take a sponge to remove excess ash and leftover material to reveal the piece’s true form, which is often strikingly different from its starting point. This unpredictability is precisely what makes raku firing such a special technique.
A Raku Firing class at Blackberry Mountain lasts three hours total. At the end, guests leave with their unique piece ready to take home with them – a personal keepsake to remind them of their time in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Rather than focusing on perfecting every detail and flawless technique, raku is about finding inspiration in uncertainty. It’s an invitation to let go, ignore convention and create without limitation.
