Raku Exhibition at 45 Southside
13th August 2018
45 Southside is a gallery on Plymouth's historic Barbican, specialising in ceramics, glass and metalwork. This autumn, their exhibition focuses on raku fired ceramics.
Five talented Devon and Cornwall based artists will be showing their latest raku work in the gallery.
The raku technique originates from 16th century Japan and is a process where pottery is fired and removed from the kiln is then subjected to post-firing reduction (or smoking) by being placed in containers of combustible materials such as sawdust. The smoke blackens raw clay and causes crazing in the glaze surface.
The crazing is a distinctive feature particular to the raku technique and leaves a certain amount of unpredictability, making every piece unique. Due to this process the finished pottery has the aroma of ambers.
The gallery also welcomes a new artist; California born Mary Kaun-English. She creates pit-fired and burnished sculptural pieces, a technique in which clay is polished to a beautiful sheen without the use of glaze.
The participating artists are Dan Chapple, Sarah McCormack, Tim Welbourne, Christina Peters and Mary Kaun-English, all creating their unique style using a similar firing technique.
Works on display include classical shapes and forms, animal figurines, cottages, double-walled bowls, vases, bottles and abstract sculptural pieces.
The exhibition will run from 22nd September to 30th October 2018. The opening view is on Saturday 22nd September from 3pm to 6pm and all are welcome.