Raku Party - Experience the Art of Raku

Create your masterpiece! You will be given a ready to glaze piece made by Barbara Harnack and Michael Lancaster, who have been practicinging the art of Raku for more than forty years.
Join us for an unforgettable pottery experience in Santa Fe, where you glaze you chosen piece and watch it fired in a traditional Raku kiln. Dinner will be catered by The Mine Shaft Tavern.

At Raku Party, immerse yourself in a unique pottery workshop that blends creation and fireside magic for a memorable day. Create your own private event, or join others to make a small group: A minimum of four persons and a maximum of ten. Non participating friends or spouses can attend for a small fee.

Book Now

Available Dates
Friday, May 22 | Saturday, May 23
Friday, June 5 | Saturday, June 6
Friday, July 24 | Saturday, July 24
Friday, July 30 | Saturday, August 1
Friday, August 7 | Saturday, August 8
Friday, August 28 | Saturday, August 29

*Note: Raku Parties will only be held once per weekend. The extra date is in case of inclement weather. Your registration forms will explain all policies.

September - November dates TBA

To join an open event or inquire about your own private Raku party.
Contact us at:
rakusculptor@yahoo.com
or 505-660-9169

About Raku

The origin of Raku is a mystery with links to Japan and Korea. There are numerous stories and we will share a little. More can be found here.

We have always believed that a Korean potter named Chojiro ended up in Japan in the 16th Century. He was ordered to repair roof tiles for members of a dynastic family. In order to save time and create an onsite workshop, he invented a fast firing technique that allowed him to remove the tiles when [red orange hot] and place them in combustable materials to cool them using lower heat. The result was so startlingly beautiful that he began making bowls for Tea ceremony using this technique. Chojiro was then elevated in status and adopted into a family of high stature. This practice slowly disappeared after several generations but was revived in the 1960's and '70's by notable American potters Hal Rieger and Paul Soldner. Over the past six or more decades it has become cherished as an art form and a practice in the realm of "Wabi-Sabi, translating into "perfection realized in the imperfect. Raku has come to share the same meaning.

Your Raku Party

You will arrive at Calliope at 5PM where Barbara Harnack & Michael Lancaster will share a look at what some of the finished Raku may look like. You will also be given a primer on Safety and ground rules. From there it's a 3 minute walk to The Mine Shaft Tavern and your glazing area. You will select a once fired piece (bisque) of pottery and with demonstration and instruction you will glaze your piece. Next we will load our pieces into the kiln so that your pieces have a chance to dry on top of the hot kiln. While our pieces heat to temperature your dinner choices will be served.

After dinner you will watch our pieces unloaded and your pieces loaded. At our discretion you may participate in various stages of the firing. The first round of fun is seeing the glow of the kiln, your hot work being removed and the firing process come to fruition. At the end you will scrub the piece as they cool.

If this is [your] private Raku party you have an opportunity to help design the night. Upon registration and deposit you will also receive and sign a waiver. There is an age limit and if attendees under a certain age are escorted by a guardian they may attend but must remain with that guardian a certain distance from the firing area. We discourage children under 16 from attending. There will also be a list of how to dress. Non synthetic clothing is a must. Welding gloves, masks, and rawhide aprons will be provided. Check the dates below to select your event.