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Raku Firing at Your Place


District Clay Raku Firing at Your Place with Ray Bogle
District Clay Fee:  $700 includes on-site instruction, glazes, portable kilns and firings.  Ceramic ware for firing can be included at an additional cost*. Approx. 36 pieces of ceramic ware will be fired, with up to 12 people participating during each four-hour firing. 

This is an dramatic and exciting outdoor workshop at your place.  No prior ceramic experience is required.  Masks are required to be worn during the workshop.

(To take a raku workshop with Ray at District Clay, please go here.)

About Raku
Raku firings are the most dramatic form of ceramic firing. They involve quickly heating bisqued pots in outdoor kilns to 1,800 degrees, then plunging the red-hot pots into trash cans that are filled with combustible materials. The trash cans burst into flame and smoke, which is quickly smothered.  This type of extreme firing, created in Japan centuries ago, yields some of the most dramatic glazed surfaces in the ceramic repertoire, including iridescent greens and reds and white on black crackle glazes. 
 
Raku is not only exciting to create but it is also a masterclass in how ceramic glazes are created.  Raku firing utilizes both oxidation and reduction firings to create its dramatic surfaces with different stages in reduction firing turning the same glaze from an iridescent green to red. 
 
About Ray’s Raku Workshops
Ray’s Raku firings are highly interactive and require teamwork and collaboration.  Participants are carefully trained how to retrieve hot ware from the raku kiln using tongs and fireproof gloves and deposit it in reduction cans. Participants also monitor reduction cans, fill them with sawdust and learn to smother the fire at the precise time.  Once the ware has cooled, participants will then scrub their pots of the charcoal and smoke residue to reveal the amazing colors underneath.
 
Because firings involve handling of extremely hot ceramic ware and monitoring reduction cans which emit fire and smoke, raku firings present inherent dangers.  The organizing party must sign a waiver of responsibility (below) before the firing begins.

About the Firing
Ray’s Raku kilns are made from trashcans lined with ceramic fiber which makes them highly efficient and portable.  Each kiln holds 3-8 pieces depending upon the size of the work.  Along with the kilns Ray utilizes 6-8 small "reduction" cans filled with sawdust where pieces are placed when removed hot from the kiln.

Each kiln load typically takes about 30 mins to reach 1800 degrees and the pieces are ready to be pulled. When doing workshops Ray uses two kilns and times them so they reach temp about 15 mins apart. This allows many kiln loads to be fired in a short time.

This is an outdoor workshop that requires considerable space to put on.  

Firing Basics
The workshop participants are involved in all aspects of the firing process while Ray closely monitors and manages the overall process.  Tasks involved with the process are:

- Glazing pieces for firing
- Loading kilns
- Monitoring temperature rise
- Preparing reduction cans
- Pulling fired pieces from the kiln
- Cleaning finished pieces
​- Taking your work home!

Additional expenses*
Ray can supply 36 pieces of bisqued ceramic ware suitable for raku firing for an additional $150 (12 cups and 24 5x7 tiles: one cup and two tiles per participant.)

Ray Bogle:
Ray has been working clay for over 30 years and with Raku and other Alternative Firing Techniques for over 20 years.  Since his first exposure to Raku firing, he has grown to enjoy the interactiveness and spontaneity of the technique and the uniqueness of each piece.  He runs District Clay Raku Firing Program, which offers both raku firings at District Clay and private events at different venues.  He specializes with Naked Raku and Pit Firing techniques, conducts workshops throughout the Washington DC area, and teaches pottery for the Community College of Southern Maryland and at the Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Art Center.

If you have questions about hosting a workshop at your place, please send Ray a note: rbogle (at) comcast (dot) net.
1. Please give us your contact information: *This question is required.
5. Would you like ceramic ware for the firing to be supplied by Ray?  The cost is $150 for 36 pieces (12 cups and 24 5x7 tiles: one cup and two tiles) *This question is required.
6. Group Waiver of Responsibility:

Raku firings are inherently dangerous.  Participants will be carefully instructed how to handle extremely hot ceramic ware and as well as how to monitor and operate reduction cans which emit fire and smoke. Participants will also be supplied with flameproof gloves and metal tongs. In addition, the ceramic kilns and reduction cans and lids get extremely hot. The ceramic kilns are powered by portable propane gas tanks. 

While it is extremely rare for injury to occur, injury risks include severe burns and other catastrophic injuries, smoke inhalation, cuts from broken shards of pottery and other hazards.  In order to proceed with a DCC Raku Firing, a designated officer of the company or organizer of the event must sign below. 

If you are a non-corporate organizer, you agree to notify each participant of the risks detailed above and of the waiver of responsibilty.  A copy of this survey will be sent to you, which you can send to your participants. *This question is required.
7. The Participating Party that I represent is: *This question is required.
7. Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement

Assumption of Risks:  As the organizer of this event, I recognize that participation in a raku firing, hereinafter called "the Activity" carries with it certain inherent risks that cannot be eliminated regardless of the care taken to avoid injuries.  During the firing, participants will be carefully instructed how to handle extremely hot ceramic ware and as well as how to monitor and operate reduction cans which emit fire and smoke. Participants will also be supplied with flameproof gloves and metal tongs. I understand that ceramic kilns get extremely hot, reaching temperatures up to 1,800 degrees, and are powered by portable propane gas tanks.  While I understand that it is extremely rare for injury to occur, I acknowledge that injury risks include severe burns and other catastrophic injuries, smoke inhalation, cuts from broken shards of pottery and other hazards. 

Waiver:  In consideration of being permitted to participate in a Raku Firing, I, as an officer or agent of the Participating Party, do hereby release, waive and discharge DISTRICT CLAY LLC (aka “the District Clay Center”), Ray Bogle, Cass Johnson, their officers, employees and agents liability, from any and all claims, including the negligence of DISTRICT CLAY LLC, Cass Johnson, their officers, employees and agents liability resulting in personal injury, accidents or illnesses (including death), and property loss arising from, but not limited to, participation in “The Activity”, and furthermore covenant not to sue DISTRICT CLAY LLC, Cass Johnson, their officers, employees and agents liability, for any and all activities covered by this waiver.

Indemnification and Hold Harmless:  I also agree to INDEMNIFY AND HOLD DISTRICT CLAY LLC, Ray Bogle, Cass Johnson, their officers, employees and agents, harmless from any and all claims, actions, suits, procedures, costs, expenses, damages and liabilities, including attorney’s fees brought as a result of my companies involvement in The Activity, and to reimburse them for any such expenses incurred.

Severability:  The undersigned further expressly agrees that the foregoing waiver and assumption of risks agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the law of The District of Columbia, and that if any portion thereof is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall continue in full legal force and effect.

Acknowledgment of Understanding:  I have read this waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement, fully understand its terms, and understand that on behalf of the Participating Party, I am giving up substantial rights, including the right to sue.  I acknowledge that I am signing this agreement freely and voluntarily and intend it by my signature to be a complete and unconditional release of liability to the greatest extent allowed by law. *This question is required.
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7. Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement

Assumption of Risks:  As the organizer of this event, I recognize that participation in a raku firing, hereinafter called "the Activity" carries with it certain inherent risks that cannot be eliminated regardless of the care taken to avoid injuries.  During the firing, participants will be carefully instructed how to handle extremely hot ceramic ware and as well as how to monitor and operate reduction cans which emit fire and smoke. Participants will also be supplied with flameproof gloves and metal tongs. I understand that ceramic kilns get extremely hot, reaching temperatures up to 1,800 degrees, and are powered by portable propane gas tanks.  While I understand that it is extremely rare for injury to occur, I acknowledge that injury risks include severe burns and other catastrophic injuries, smoke inhalation, cuts from broken shards of pottery and other hazards. 

By signing this waiver, I agree to notifiy the participants of this activity that I have signed this waiver on their behalf and to get their agreement to its terms before the Firing commences. 

Waiver:  In consideration of being permitted to participate in a Raku Firing, I, as a non-corporate organizer, do hereby release, waive and discharge DISTRICT CLAY LLC (aka “the District Clay Center”), Ray Bogle, Cass Johnson, their officers, employees and agents liability, from any and all claims by the participants of this Firing, including the negligence of DISTRICT CLAY LLC, Ray Bogle, Cass Johnson, their officers, employees and agents liability resulting in personal injury, accidents or illnesses (including death), and property loss arising from, but not limited to, participation in “The Activity”, and furthermore covenant not to sue DISTRICT CLAY LLC, Ray Bogle, Cass Johnson, their officers, employees and agents liability, for any and all activities covered by this waiver.

Indemnification and Hold Harmless:  I also agree on behalf of the participants to INDEMNIFY AND HOLD DISTRICT CLAY LLC, Ray Bogle, Cass Johnson, their officers, employees and agents, harmless from any and all claims, actions, suits, procedures, costs, expenses, damages and liabilities, including attorney’s fees brought as a result of my companies involvement in The Activity, and to reimburse them for any such expenses incurred.

Severability:  The undersigned further expressly agrees that the foregoing waiver and assumption of risks agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the law of The District of Columbia, and that if any portion thereof is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall continue in full legal force and effect.

Acknowledgment of Understanding:  I have read this waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement, fully understand its terms, and understand that on behalf of participants, I am giving up substantial rights, including the right to sue.  I acknowledge that I am signing this agreement freely and voluntarily, that I am responsible for notifying the participants of the Firing of this understanding, and intend it by my signature to be a complete and unconditional release of liability to the greatest extent allowed by law. *This question is required.
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