Edward Devlin

PART 4 – THE RAKU POTTERY PARTY

Windham May 21, 1974. The Eagle-Tribune.

By Sally Gilman

Ed Devlin and Edith Low with Raku pottery pieces.

“When Edward and Pearl Devlin decided to throw a party for the Windham Arts Association, you could be sure it would be something quite different.”

“Since Devlin is a noted New Hampshire potter, he decided to have all the arts association members over to his studio for a Raku party.”

“Raku pottery had it origin in the tea bowls of the 16th century and the term “Raju” comes from the Chinese character meaning enjoyment, pleasure, contentment and ease.”

“Under the guidance of the Devlins, Raku was the ideal fun project for everyone.”

“Raku emphasizes the accidental and spontaneous and not the unblemished surfaces and sophisticated concepts in pottery.”

“The ground work for the Raku party was laid months ago, when Devlin gave each member of the local group a lump of clay and told them to go home and ‘Create.’ ”

“All sorts of containers, dishes, and plaques were turned out and brought to Saturday’s Raku party.”

“Working outside in old clothes, the members went up to their elbows in cans of glaze mixtures and dribbled paint of all colors over the clay objects, which had already dried and bisque fired by Devlin.”

“After the ‘potters for-a-day’  did their own glazing and decorative work on the pieces they were dried a second time.”

“Devlin using tongs, put the pieces into a glaze fire, leaving them there from 10 minutes to a half hour, depending upon the glaze composition and temperature.”

“They were then removed with tongs and allowed to either cool off for subtle reduction effects on the metallic oxides and glazes, the red hot pot was put into a covered vessel containing combustible material. They were also put directly into cold water to freeze the glaze in a molten stage.”

“Devlin supplied everyone with some ‘practice’ pieces before they took on their original creations. The Windham Arts Association was so pleased with the final results, that it is planning to exhibit the Raku work at the Nesmith Library.”