Island Excursion
Beach festival celebrates magic of raku

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

The raku creations range from the traditional to the unusual at the beach gallery that showcases the potters' work during the ho'olaule'a at Kualoa Regional Park.

This bowl was glazed and fired at the Raku Ho'olaule'a two years ago. For $5, anyone can glaze a bowl or vase, which will be fired by potters. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

And that's the beauty of it.

Instant gratification, always a surprise.

"There's lots of drama with raku," said Sue Ki Wilcox, a writer/photographer/beadmaker in charge of organizing this year's Raku Ho'olaule'a at Kualoa Regional Park on Saturday. "You cannot predict what you're going to get."

Originated in Japan, raku is a unique low-fire ceramic firing technique, where bisqued work (work that has undergone an initial firing, without glaze) is quickly heated and quickly removed from a kiln. After reducing the temperature in wood shavings or newspaper, the piece is then submerged in cold water. The result is a wide range of colors on the surface, unexpected and often beautiful.

"The technique kind of excites me," said longtime potter Jerome Heck, who specializes in raku.

He enjoys the anticipation of seeing the results he can't predict or plan for. "It's still overwhelming, the fact that the results are the results of nature," he said.

This is part of what brings together artists around the state for the Raku Ho'olaule'a, now in its 25th year.

"It's such a great opportunity to be in such a lovely location and firing with your friends," said Wilcox, who has been attending the beach festival for the past four years.

The unpredictability of raku is what lured her to use the technique with her ceramic beads. With so many variables, from the kind of reduction materials you use to the humidity that day, the end result may never be what you want or expect.

•	Raku Ho'olaule'a – A Festival on the Beach 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday Kualoa Regional Park, off Kamehameha Highway near Kualoa Ranch Free ($5 per piece of pottery for raku firing) 596-4449 The schedule Beach gallery: Open all day Community kiln: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Pot-throwing contest: 10 a.m. Glass-blowing demonstrations: 10 a.m.-noon Floating sculpture contest: 4 p.m.

Many artists make a weekend of the event, firing pots and sculptures well into the night.

"You see heroic feats of people manhandling enormous pots," marveled Wilcox. "And when they do it at night, it's amazing."

Heck, a full-time studio potter since 1991, plans on taking three larger pieces and six smaller pieces to fire over the weekend. He spends most of his time in his Pupukea studio, experimenting with various media. But raku is a form he can't always plan for.

"You don't have the ability to say, 'Well, I want a mark on this area of the pot,'" said the 63-year-old. "The fire will determine that."

And anyone can join in. Choose a bisqued piece ($5 each); paint it with any or all of three glazes, each with a distinct finish. Raku experts will fire and cool the pieces, which takes about 15 minutes.

But expect to wait about an hour, because the kiln has limited capacity. Not to say that's wasted time. A pot-throwing contest, hot glass-blowing demonstrations and a floating sculpture contest throughout the day (see schedule) will keep even short attention spans occupied. Artists also will display their wares along the beach for viewing.

And for those firing, don't be disappointed with the results.

"Sometimes the accidental effects are the most beautiful," Wilcox said.