Potters Fire up!

Posted on 13. Jan, 2010 by joannagreer in Academics

John F. Kennedy is one of the only schools in Montgomery County that is fortunate enough to have an open air raku kiln. Blair High School students recently joined Art Resource teacher Andrea Carroll and Kennedy student potters to work on this specialized glazing technique.

Junior Thea LaFond said, “It was very interesting to see their ideas when it came to art work and it was a new learning experience working with artists at or above my level.”

This type of firing is  better than using the regular kiln because it starves the ceramics of oxygen and this anchors the texture and color of the art pieces. When removed from the kiln as seen in the attached video, it is important to put out the fire quickly and this is done with the can lids.  The ceramics pieces have a sheen to them that regular burn kiln pieces do not. Although it looks dangerous, it was well-controlled and orchestrated by the teachers and students.

While firing the kiln, the student artists  had fun roasting marshmallows.