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Instructor: Lois Hirshberg
Monday - Friday
September 9 - 13
9am - 1pm
5 sessions
Learn about Horse Hair, Western Raku, Tin Foil Saggar, Obvara and the spontaneous and unpredictable magic of these alternative firing techniques. Firings will take place each day. Students will learn how to use a Raku kiln for a variety of firing applications, including surface preparations, glazing and non-glazing techniques. This 5-day Workshop is intended for ceramists who have no or limited experience with alternative firings as well as ceramists who would like a fresh perspective on these methods.
There will be no making of pots during this week. Participants will bring bisque pieces. See suggested clays, number of pieces, sizes and preparations before bisquing in the students’ material list below.
Lois Hirshberg has been a studio potter on Cape Cod, specializing in Western Raku, for over 45 years. She began her love of ceramics at Mudflat Studios in the 1970s. After studying clay pottery at Bezalel School of Arts and Design in Jerusalem and in Japan with Parsons School of Design, Lois earned a M.A. in Art Therapy from Lesley University.
This is a firing only workshop – we will not be making any clay pieces.
Students will need to bring their own bisque ware and green ware ceramic pieces no larger than 10” tall and 5” wide:
4 - 5 bone dry pieces for experimenting with terra sig
4 – 5 bisqued pieces
Recommendations for clay body:
Bisqued ware – Raku Clay 250 Laguna
Green Ware: Bone dry: High Fire (cone 6 – 10) Stoneware with fine grog Laguna 510
Lois Hirshberg is a ceramic artist living and working on Cape Cod. In 1975, she began working in clay at Mudflat Studios in Cambridge, MA. It is there that she fell in love with clay and learned the magic of Western Raku Firing. Alternative firing techniques has become her speciality. Lois holds a M.Ed in Mental Health Counseling and an M.A. in Art Therapy. She has studied ceramics in Jerusalem at The Bezalel School of Design and in Japan through Parsons School of Design