Raku Ceramics

For viewers with some basic pottery under their belts, this excellent introduction to an art form hailing from 16th-century Japan, will be a welcome challenge. Artist and teacher Jim Romberg discusses the history and aesthetics of Raku, and then takes viewers through the steps involved in creating a beautiful vase. Although the initial stages resemble basic pottery, what makes Raku different is in the brushstroke painting of the clay and the "smoking" which follows kiln firing. Using newspaper, twigs, and other combustible materials, a small fire is created in a "smoking chamber" (in Romberg's case, a trashcan) into which the piece of pottery is lowered. When the lid is placed on, a dense cloud of smoke is produced inside which darkens various areas of the clay--resulting in a finished piece of Raku. Good camerawork and fine step by step instructions round out this winning program. For libraries with avid crafts fans, this is highly recommended. (Available from: Ashland Video Productions, 341 Mowetza Drive, Ashland, OR 97520.)