Raku Firing & Pottery Throwdown
The Bay School hosted a double-header, all-day event on Saturday, May 3 with a raku firing in our backyard and a friendly but competitive pottery throwdown going on in the studio.
Annual Raku Firing
Participants at the raku firing were able to choose a bisque-fired pot or small figurine to glaze and then watch it be fired to 1800°F in less than an hour! Potters who preferred to fire something of their own were able to bring their own pot or small sculptural piece to glaze and fire. Kids or adults who didn't want to do raku, had the option to paint a bisque-fired pot with acrylic paint and take it home with no need of a firing. We had something for everyone, and the weather was perfect for this outdoor event!
Many thanks to our volunteers helping out and to Johnny Norman and Martha Hayes who conducted the firing!
CHECK OUT THIS COOL VIDEO OF THE RAKU PROCESS!
Pottery Throwdown
The Bay School's first ever pottery throwdown was a fun event for both participants and their family and friends cheering them on! Alicia Daily, Pam Doss, Gail Falk, Christina Hubbard, Peyton Marderosian, and Wendy Marshall were the six potters competing for Grand Champion of The Bay School Throwdown. Martha Hayes served as judge for the competition.
The competition was divided into two rounds with 10-minute timed challenges. Round One included throwing the biggest bowl and who could duplicate the greatest number of identical vessels. The third challenge of Round One was to throw a vessel blindfolded, which resulted in much laughter by both competitors and onlookers. It was amazing to see that even blindfolded, how the potters' muscle memory, skill, and creativity were demonstrated.
The winners of Round One were:
- Biggest Bowl: Wendy Marshall
- Most Identical Thrown: Gail Falk
- Best of the Blindfold Challenge: Peyton Marderosian
After a break, these talented ladies then progressed to Round Two which involved two, 10-minute challenges during which they had to replicate a particular jar shape and then copy a bottle shape that were provided for reference. Accuracy was the benchmark against which they were judged.
AND THE WINNER IS. . . Peyton Marderosian!
Congratulations to Peyton as our first Grand Champion of The Bay School Pottery Throwdown! Many thanks to the talented potters who competed, amazing volunteers who helped organize and run the event, and the individuals who came to witness the magic.
