Raku Firing with Amy Benzie & Kevin Andrew Morris from ACS Short Course
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-18 | 2023-05-05 |
Program Overview
Participants are invited to bring their own bisque fired work to our Raku Art Weekender with Aberdeen Ceramics Studio. This workshop will take place outdoors where you will be introduced to the process of Raku; a Japanese style of pottery that involves low temperature earthenware firing combined with a rapid firing cycle.
Program Outline
This one-day workshop will take place outdoors and will be centred around the use of our own outdoor kiln. Provided is the opportunity to learn the process of Raku firing.
Raku is a low temperature earthenware firing and involves a rapid firing cycle. This is a direct process used to capture rapid results and ultimately brings the maker close in touch with fire and its effects on clay.
Guided by two of the team from Aberdeen Ceramics Studio, participants can glaze work together as a group prior to loading the kiln and firing their own work. A discussion around the process of firing will take place whilst observing your active outdoor firing.
Participants can then expect to see their own work being drawn from the red-hot kiln.
Whilst your work is still hot, you are invited to learn how pieces can be treated in a number of different ways, this can include plunging your work into sawdust (or other combustible material) or quenching your work directly into water.
Participants are required to bring their own bisque work ready to glaze and fire. It is essential that all work is bisque fired ahead of this workshop. This can involve work made during our previous Art Weekenders or can involve individuals own premade, bisque fired work. The process of raku firing will be repeated during the day enabling participants to fire one or two of their own pieces.
Participants are encouraged to bring more work than needed where possible with an estimated maximum of 25 litres of work each.
Disclaimer
The University regularly reviews its courses. Course content and structure may change over time. See our
course and module disclaimer
for more information.Learning Methods
This course will be delivered on campus from 10:00 - 16:00.
Participants are asked to prepare for an outdoor workshop.
Activity Summary
Assessment
This course is not formally assessed.
Staff Delivering on this Course
Delivering this workshop are two of the team from Aberdeen Ceramics Studio.
Kevin Andrew Morris
Kevin Andrew Morris, referred to as a ‘Nomadic Ceramicist’ is motivated by an investigation of his own family heritage and material culture. His work engages with concepts of craft, material, and place. Based in Aberdeen, Morris exhibits work both nationally and internationally, working with a range of artists, institutions, and various public projects.
Amy Benzie
Amy Benzie is a ceramic maker and a creative facilitator living and working in Torry, Aberdeen. Benzie’s curiosity lies in the alchemy of glaze recipes and firing. The element of unpredictability that comes from investigating with her materials, and the exchanges between art and science greatly inform the otherworldly forms and textures of her work.
Aberdeen Ceramics Studio
Aberdeen Ceramics Studio is a team of six passionate ceramicists and potters who share a vision to make working with ceramics available to everyone in the North East of Scotland. The team is made up of Aimee Morris, AJ Simpson, Amy Benzie, Celda Tyndall, Kevin Andrew Morris and Matthew Wilcock.
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