Creston Alternative Raku Firing Workshop 2) charieen Stroud

Twelve enthusiastic clay artists were privileged to take part in an
Alternative Raku Firing Workshop with Eduardo Lazo May 12 to
16 at the Pottery Studio behind the Wynndel Community Hall just
outside Creston.

Eduardo Lazo is a professional potter/sculptor who brought 29 years
of experience to his workshop. He is a highly recognized expert in
low-fire techniques and has taught in private studios, colleges and
universities. With an MFA from California State University in Los
Angeles and his years of teaching experience, he was the perfect person
to lead this workshop. He states “In honoring ceramic traditions (East
and West), I strive to elevate the ordinary, exploit perfect imperfection
and acknowledge the creative process.”

Six different “state of the art” Alternative Raku firing techniques
were explored:

* One-Step Naked Raku

* Two-Step Naked Raku

* Ferric Chloride Techniques

* Horse Hair high contrast reduction

¢ Aluminum Foil Saggar low salt fire

* Kosai Ware (Fuming with Stannous Chloride)

‘This sold out, five-day workshop was organized (with the financial
support of the Columbia Basin Trust/Columbia Kootenay Culture
Alliance,) by the Wynndel Mudders of Creston. As with all workshops,
the weeks before the workshop involved much organization and Maggie
Leal-Valias and her team did an amazing amount of preparatory work
to make the workshop run smoothly. From organizing the venue, the
kilns, glazes, gas, etc etc, as well as the accommodation for Eduardo
and his assistant Andrew Miller, they worked tirelessly to get everything
organized.

Each participant was expected to make and bisque fire 20 pieces
with WSO, Soldate 60 or Laguna B-Mix with grog. These pieces were
to be burnished and measured not more than 9 x 9 x 9 inches each.
‘This preparation by each participant guaranteed dedicated students
and. allowed each participant to begin firing immediately. A highly

detailed 40-page written guide was distributed to each participant on

Eduardo Lazo (left) and Andrew Miller doing copper fuming.

the first day. This served as an essential reference for the workshop.
Participants could pay attention to the demonstrations without having
to constantly make notes.

Participants were divided into groups and set about getting slips,
terra sigillata, and glazes made. These were used in the workshop

Continued on Page 8, Kosai Warriors

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Potters Guild of BC Newsletter - September 2009 7