Cleveland Elementary Hosts Raku Firing

Students at Cleveland Elementary School had the unique opportunity to experience the fine art process of Raku firing earlier this spring. Every student, teacher, and staff member had the chance to create, glaze, and fire a pinch pot.

During the Raku firing process the pinch pots are heated to a temperature of 2,000 degrees before they are removed from the kiln and placed into a metal container filled with wood chips. The low oxygen environment created by the extinguished wood chips allows the brilliant color transformation of the glaze to take place. Students then scrubbed smoke residue from their pinch pots using a water and sand mixture.

“Every student walked away with more than just a pinch pot” explained Chris Thilges, art teacher. “They also took with them an invaluable memory which will hopefully fuel a lifelong appreciation of the arts.”