Raku Pottery was developed in Japan 400 years ago as the preferred ceremonial tea ware of the Zen Masters, chosen for its deliberate avoidance of luxury. It is a process combining all four elements of nature whereby the earth struggles against the elements of fire, air and water and reflects the most fundamental rhythm of enlightened life.
A glazed pot is placed into a hot outdoor kiln, the entire vessel glows red and the glaze melts into sheets of liquid glass. The glowing pot is then placed into a container filled with sawdust and plunged into cold water. As a result of the tremendous temperature changes during the various stages of the Raku firing, the pot develops cracks in the glaze. The Japanese saw these marks as proof of the Earth having triumphed over the other elements. The six-day course in Patmos will be based at the beautiful cottage and garden of Nikos and Ritsa Eliou, your tutors.
Faculty Information:
During the course of the week you will:
- Search for interesting and inspiring forms in the ever-changing landscapes.
- Learn the various techniques needed to build the clay forms such as slabbing, coiling & pinching.
- Create objects of your choice be it pots, plates, cups or even small statues.
- Biscuit fire your created objects, ‘The First Firing’.
- Learn to prepare and mix the glazes, chose colours and decorate.
Finally, the Raku Firing ceremony will take place on a beach under the star filled Aegean sky, accompanied with food and wine around the bonfire.
Other Activities:
Just some of the complementary events that we offer and which we feel will make your experience of the Aegean more complete.
- Fishing trips – once a week we will take a traditional Greek fishing boat, a packed lunch with plenty of wine and spend the afternoon fishing.
- Excursions to monasteries, churches and other sites of interest
- Mythology seminars (Patmos only)
- Greek music nights
- Wine tasting evenings
Facility Information:
The houses are fully equipped with 2 air conditioned bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, and balconies with view of the Kampos beach.
We provide: Stoneware clay, glazes and under glazes, table turning wheel, brushes, modeling tools, wooden boards, outdoor kiln.
Notes:
Included in the price:
- Six nights full-board accommodation
- Transportation during the course, pick up and drop off from port/airport
- Tuition, materials and equipment for the course as well as complementary services such as framing of artwork.
- Buffet breakfast, lunch or picnic according to location, sit down dinner on hotel terrace accompanied with local wines.
- Soft drinks and snacks
- Special events and activities
Non-participating partners: Partners or companions who do not wish to participate on any of the courses receive a 20% discount or €240.
Two-week trips: Those booking two consecutive weeks enjoy a discount of 10%
Group discount: If you are four or more people booking together for any course you receive a 10% discount each.
Private group bookings are available and we can make minor changes to the itinerary to suit the group.
Child discounts: Children (non-participating) under 10 sharing a room with two adults receive a 50% discount.
Also see Vacation Schools in:
Art and craft workshop
Europe
Greece
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