“Bin people, get ready!” shouted Melissa Schapell over the sound of the propane gas tank heating a kiln outside Salem High School.
The “bin people,” better known as Visual and Performing Arts Academy (VPAA) students in Schappell’s ceramics class, were ready.
You have to be when you are about to receive pottery at 1850 degrees Fahrenheit. The students were also eager to get a first look at some of the Raku pieces they glazed last class.
Schappell, wearing protective clothing and glasses like her students, quickly explained the unique firing process to a visitor.
“A propane tank feeds into the bottom of the kiln, and we have a pyrometer measuring its temperature,” she said. “I slowly increase the heat until it gets to about 1300 degrees, and then I put it on full blast. At 1850 degrees we lift the lid, set it down and the pieces are red-hot at their peak temperature.”
“We take those metal forceps there,” continued Schappell, “and create an assembly line to pick up one piece at a time and put them into those fireproof bins filled with newspaper and sawdust. They catch flame, we close the lid, and they sit in there for about 20 minutes so they can reduce.”
It’s the quick cooling of the pottery during the reduction process that freezes certain characteristics of the pottery and brightens the Raku glaze.
“That’s the really neat part about the process,” said Schappell, “you get these really unpredictable marks that give them individual interest. Sometimes you get char marks on the surface wherever there is really nice contact with some of the newspaper or sawdust. And some of the glazes have special effects. This is a crackle glaze, so you see interesting lines. Sometimes colors change in the process. There is always the element of no control, so you just kind of let go at a certain point and whatever happens, happens.”
There has to be control, however, in removing the red-hot pieces from the kiln. Watch Schappell and her students remove two pieces to a fireproof bin:
“You should see it at night,” said VPAA coordinator Christopher Buhner. “The heat from the kiln and the flames from the reduction bins are amazing.”
“And you should see the brick oven pizzas it makes,” joked principal Matt Delaney about the red-hot kiln.
There will not be 1850-degree pizza slices at the VPAA’s ninth annual Raku-B-Que Nov. 5, but there will be the opportunity to see the firing process under the night sky. The event, from 6-8 p.m. at Salem High School, will feature Raku firing by Schappell’s students as well as dinner, a student art show, a silent auction, face painting and clay wheel throwing demonstrations. A limited number of tickets for $11 each will be available for purchase at the door, and event proceeds benefit the VPAA.
The outdoor test firing by Schappell’s students Oct. 29 was practice for Raku-B-Que, and they were grateful for the chance to run through the process.
“That was stressful,” said sophomore Jordan Cook taking off her safety glasses. “I was afraid someone would drop one, and it would break into a bunch of pieces.”
While they wait for the next batch of test pottery to reach peak temperature in the kiln outside, students worked inside to finish the sculptures they will fire for the public at Raku-B-Que. They created the pieces for an assignment on untraditional self-portraits.
“They had to reflect on different personality traits that they do or do not show the outside world and what their most important passions are,” explained Schappell, “and they had to create hybrid sculptural pieces that reflect the different elements of their personality.”
Sophomore Jenalyn Abisia zoomed in on a smartphone photo to get a closer look at an elephant’s skin. She used a small tool to add texture to the two elephants featured in her piece.
“When elephants are separated from their family, they get scared easily and they run away. They don’t have a sense for what they want to do,” said Abisia. “It is similar to me when I’m alone and when I’m separated from my friends, my family or people that I know. I feel like I’m lost and by myself, like elephants.”
Ethan Maher’s sculpture also features animals – a fox, a lion and a snake. “Have you read The Prince by Machiavelli?” asked the 10th-grader. Inspired by the book, Maher included a lion to represent aggressiveness and fox because he is cunning.
“I also included a snake because sometimes I can be a bit mean,” said Maher.
“He sounds like a great guy to hang out with, doesn’t he?” joked a classmate at Maher’s table.
Sitting next to Maher is Michael Robinson, who created a piece that resembles a chimpanzee because “they are pretty goofy, silly and loud, and that’s what I am.” Robinson added curls to the sculpture to resemble his own, noting, “I thought it would be kind of fun to put my hair up there.”
Cook and Lauren Chassee each created pieces with a floral concept.
“What people really don’t know about me is that I’m actually a fairly sensitive person,” said Cook. “I’m really gentle and sensitive, kind of how flowers are sensitive to the elements. So I’m planning on painting it like a flower on the inside, and on the outside I’m planning on leaving it unglazed so it gets black.”
Cook learned that when unglazed clay gets exposed to the harsh element of the high-heat kiln, it turns black. The effect, according to Cook, will make the finished piece represent her. “On the outside, it will be kind of dull and plain, but on the inside it will be colorful,” she noted.
Chassee’s sculpture of a flower has an unexpected addition to the petals. “It is a blooming flower because I am still blooming and growing, and there is an eyeball on top because there is more I have to see,” explained Chassee.
A more abstract concept was also depicted in Emily Nicholson’s sculpture of a horse with ram’s horns, a fish-like tail and crystal-like gems in a hollowed out center. “It is supposed to represent how I might change how I act around different people,” explained Nicholson.
“Ok, let’s suit up again everyone. The kiln isn’t going to wait for us,” announced Schappell from the back of the room.
Schappell’s monitoring of the pyrometer showed it was nearing the peak temperature of 1850 degrees.
“One minute and counting,” she announced as students adjusted gloves and safety glasses and took their places by the bins and metal forceps. In 60 seconds they can remove the kiln’s lid to reveal their raku-fired pots.
While observing the test firing, Delaney, new to Salem High School this year, noted he loves visiting the fine arts hallway to see what the students are creating. He admits he is not artistic, but he recognizes the valuable opportunity VPAA students have to pursue their talents at Salem.
“Imagine getting to come in here every other day for 90 minutes and do what you love,” said Delaney. “It’s amazing.”
For more information about the Nov. 5 Raku-B-Que event, contact Salem High School at 757-648-5650.
Best Raku-B-Que yet! Great job to all involved! The hard work of the students and teachers was on full display. The silent auction is always so much fun.