Ellis Celebrates Raku

Every year, once the leaves begin to turn and the weather gets cold, a special and magical evening takes place for advanced clay students at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts: the Raku Celebration. This anticipated tradition allows students to experience and learn about the ancient Raku process developed in Japan. On Thursday, November 12th, after school, advanced clay students headed over to PCA and took part in this annual celebration.
At the beginning of the school year, students made two clay pieces, a Precious Object piece and a traditional Japanese winter or summer tea bowl, to fire in the Raku kiln and to later display in the upper school entrance. For the Precious Object piece students were asked to bring in a precious object smaller than the palm of their hand, and then create a clay receptacle or stand to hold their object.

The Ellis School’s acclaimed clay teacher, Ms. Ceil Sturdevant, said that the Japanese tea bowls “were shaped for function as well as for their beauty. The winter tea bowl’s sides were upright and straight keeping the tea warm. The summer tea bowl’s sides were open and tilted outward allowing the tea to cool.”
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