Bayfield Chamber & Visitor Bureau: Annual “Raku Weekend” at Eckels Pottery and Fine Craft Gallery offers experiential art event

Media Contacts:
Name: Kelley Linehan
Title: Marketing & Events Manager
Bayfield Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Bureau
Phone: (715) 779-3335
Email address: kelley@bayfield.org

The dynamic coming together of clay and fire make for an unforgettable experience during Bayfield’s annual Festival of Arts weekend

Bayfield, Wis. – Participate in Bayfield’s Festival of Arts celebration by becoming an artist yourself. Eckels Pottery and Fine Craft Gallery is inviting people of all ages to attend their annual “Raku Weekend” event which takes place on Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20. Not only will participants go home with a new piece of pottery, they will be fully immersed in this unique, ancient artistic process.

Raku is a glaze process that traces its origins to 16th century Japan. “People wanted a quicker way to produce glazed pottery”, explains Pete Skoro of Eckels Pottery and Fine Craft Gallery. Creating a piece of traditional pottery is time consuming, but the Raku technique allows for a faster firing process. Event attendees will receive a fired pot to glaze for $25, apply the glaze and then fire it in an outdoor kiln heated to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the glazed ware is removed from the kiln, it is immersed in a pit of combustible material and sealed from oxygen. The extreme change in temperature and chemical reaction creates an unpredictable and entirely unique look.

“It’s controllable, but you don’t always know what you will come out with,” says Skoros. “You can glaze and fire a pot, from flame to sawdust, where the magic turns the glazes into white crackle, coppery reds or blues.” The entire process takes about an hour.

Eckels Pottery and Fine Craft Gallery, located at 85205 State Highway 13, is owned and operated by local artists Deanna Eckels and Pete Skoro. The gallery and studio were originally established by Deanna’s father Robert Eckels and friend, Glen Nelson, as The Pot Shop in 1960. It has remained a center of art and a cornerstone of the artistic community in Bayfield since that time.

Eckels’ staff will be present to guide participants through the process, but attendees can expect a hands on experience and are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to watch the event and process unfold. For more information on Raku Weekend, visit eckelspottery.com or call 715-779-5617.

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Raku Weekend at Eckels Pottery and Fine Craft Gallery