By Karen Bliss
For Culture Days — taking place nationwide Sept. 23 – Oct. 16 — York Region has something pretty special in store — or maybe we should say “in kiln” for potters.
On Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Aurora Town Park (60 Wells St.), Pine Tree Potters’ Guild is organizing a public pottery glaze and fire display called Raku In The Park.
Unlike pottery cast on a wheel, Raku is hand-sculpted and is a low fire process, reaching around 1830F (1000C) at its highest temperature. It’s taken out of the kiln when it is red hot and is cooled rapidly, often in combustible material like sawdust or paper.
Raku In The Park invites participants to come out to Aurora Town Park and watch the Raku firing process. The first 100 people will have the chance to glaze a piece of pottery, watch it being fired and then take it home (once cooled).
Aurora’s Pine Tree Potters’ Guild was founded in 1979 and counts among its members novices to experienced potters.
According to its web site, the non-profit is “dedicated to the preservation and advancement of ceramic arts,” which is does through the maintenance of a fully equipped working studio; a reference library; demonstrations and workshops presented by guild members and guest speakers; monthly meetings and newsletters; in-guild and outreach educational programs; community programs; and members sales.
Pine Tree Potters’ Guild holds a sale twice a year. Just in time for the holidays, the November 2022 Show and Sale Nov. 17-19 at Newmarket Old Town Hall. More than 2000 pieces “of both functional and decorative porcelain, stoneware, and Raku pottery” by Guild members will be on sale (and its creators are usually on-hand).
http://www.pinetreepotters.ca/
Karen Bliss is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Billboard, Rolling Stone, Pollstar and others. She has interviewed thousands of musicians, including Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder, Eminem, Shania Twain, Metallica and Michael Bublé.
