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By Jessica Colasanto
Raku pottery is an art form that dates back to 16th century Japan.
The word itself means “enjoyment,” and it is tied to the
Japanese tea ceremony; by serving tea in raku ware, emphasis is
symbolically placed upon the idea that each meeting is unique
and impermanent, thus a moment to be treasured.
Legend has it that the symbol “raku” was presented to the son
of a potter under the patronage of Sen-No-Rikyu, possibly the
most respected Japanese tea master, in 1598. That potter’s unique
style and the raku symbol have been passed down through his
lineage, and there is still an active “Raku” family of potters.
In the 1960s, artist Paul Soldner introduced a Western raku
technique, which involves using a reduction chamber at the end
of the firing. Incidentally, Soldner and a member of the Raku
family have argued over the ethics of outsiders using the term
to describe their wares, as it was originally intended that “raku”
refer to the potter, not the pottery. Despite this controversy, the
term has made it into Webster’s dictionary as both the process
and the wares.
John Cogswell is bringing the enjoyment of Raku ware to Powell
River, creating beautiful decorative pots following the Western
technique.
The process of Raku produces stunning metallic glazes, as
well as white pottery with a black crackle. Although he used
to turn clay on a potter’s wheel, John now prefers to roll a
slab and shape it using a form. This is typical of raku—it
guarantees unique qualities, as celebrated in the tea ceremony—but
no doubt the most intriguing of John’s works are
those formed on a burl.
John is a retired woodworker, so it seems fitting that he has
found this distinctive method using a local wood product. With
the slab on the burl, he uses the potter’s wheel to add a foot (a
base) to the piece. It’s then ready for the first firing. All of this is
done at the Powell River Fine Arts Club at Timberlane Park, of
which John is a member.
John is also a registered pyrotechnician, which probably explains
his fondness of the next step in the process, which he
does at his home. He fires the pots at 1800°, then removes the
red hot pieces with long iron tongs and places them into a metal
container filled with sawdust. The heat from the clay ignites the
sawdust in a burst of smoke and fire. The container is immediately
covered until the pieces cool.
John uses three different glazes: copper, blue cobalt, and
white. Reduction firing turns the copper glaze a vibrant, metallic
copper colour, but it can also produce a green glaze
with oxidation. And because naked clay turns black from the
smoke, raku wares can be created in a variety of colour combinations.
Some prefer the metallic pieces, while others hold the
white pottery infused with black crackle in high esteem. And
because John takes his lead from nature when creating the
pots—some use a smooth form with leaves, weeds, cat track
stamps, and even barbed wire (a potent social symbol that offers
a beautiful form) in the design—you may find it difficult
to choose a favourite.
You can see John’s raku wares at the Fine Arts Club shows, or
email him at jcogs@shaw.ca.
Do you have an upcoming art event?
Let us know at arts@prlving.ca.
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28 POwEll RIVER lIVINg : april 2009