Wednesday, May 2, 2007 · Page 12 Modernizing the ancient Japanese art of `Raku' BY DANIEL SCHWAB In a tiny Kingsville basement, Gloria Gellner is teaching students of all ages an ancient form of Japanese pottery known as "Raku." The method is characterized by using low firing temperatures, removing red hot pieces from a kiln and placing them into a bucket of combustible materials such as straw to set them ablaze. After cooling, some "funky iridescent glazes" are produced, Gellner said. After doing some research, Gellner and the group, ranging in age from 20 to 60, built a kiln and developed about 75 glaze tests using stoneware clay. Some of the hand-painted decorative pots are on display at the Essex Library this month. "They're just extraordinarily beautiful," Gellner said of the Raku creations. A potter since 1977, Gellner says practising the technique even helped her out of a temporary artistic slump. "Doing something new and different has been very inspiring," she said. "The students were really behind that." Gloria Gellner is displaying her pottery at the Essex Library this month. The Kingsville artist uses a variety of methods to design and decorate one-of-akind tea cups, coffee mugs, dishes and other creations. Gellner offers 10-week pottery classes for beginner, intermediate and advanced level students from her home on County Road 20. The former St. Clair College continuing education instructor was forced to move the classes to her basement after provincial funding cuts ended pottery sessions at the school. As a teacher, she said helping to develop a young artist's skills from beginner to advanced potter is "wonderful." "In the last session, I had some beginners who were just doing phenomenally," she said. "And they've continued on, so obviously they kind of have the love of potting in themselves." In her basement studio, ten huge potter's wheels sit ready to be used, next to wall-plastered images of intricately designed tea pots, coffee mugs and dishes. Gellner offers all of these creations at her business Capricorn Pottery established in a small shop in her front yard nestled next to the kiln barn and just outside the studio. When attending art shows, she'll often bring along informative posters that explain the difficult process of turning clay into pottery. She says many people aren't aware of the length or work involved in the creative procedure. After the initial shaping, a single mug takes six hours to firm up enough to attach a handle. After drying for a week, the first firing takes about eight hours. Once taken out, a glaze is applied and the mug goes through a second firing, this time for 11 hours. "There's a lot of hard work involved," Gellner said. "I think it's important people understand how things are made because they don't just magically appear," she joked. Gellner has participated in Windsor's annual Art in the Park event for 34 years. Her inspiration comes more from taking nature photos and using the organic designs and textures in her pottery, than from studying the work of other artists. "I'm kind of like a little island unto myself," she said. "It's just fun to get on the wheel and whatever strikes your fancy go for it. I don't want to do the same thing over and over again. Very often people are purchasing one of a kind pieces." 169 IRWIN AVE. Phone: 776-8699 Ages 3 Months - 12 Years Quality Child Care with a Before/After School Age Program. Chad van der Muren, B.Sc., R.M.T. REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPIST 4 Whitewood Avenue, P.O. Box 69, Cottam, ON N0R 1B0 Phone: 519-839-6393 Email:cvandermuren@gosfieldtel.com Hrs. 6:00 am - 6:00 pm The Corporation of the Town of Tecumseh NOTICE ANNUAL HYDRANT FLUSHING TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF TECUMSEH SERVICED BY THE TECUMSEH WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM: THE ANNUAL HYDRANT FLUSHING PROGRAM WILL COMMENCE MAY 14TH, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 A.M. AND 3:00 P.M., MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL COMPLETED (approximately mid June). AS A RESULT OF FLUSHING, A DISCOLOURATION OF THE WATER MAY OCCUR. PLEASE CHECK WATER BY RUNNING COLD WATER TAPS. WATER SHOULD BE CHECKED PRIOR TO WASHING LAUNDRY. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RESPECTING APPROXIMATE DATES AND LOCATION OF FLUSHING MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED BY VISITING THE TOWN'S WEBSITE www.tecumseh.ca. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE TOWN OF TECUMSEH ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT 519 735-6381 DURING OFFICE HOURS (8:30 am to 4:30 pm).