North Platte, NE: Eric Stearns returns to his hometown on November 3rd for the opening reception of his latest ceramic work in a show titled Ra•ku. You are welcome to meet the artist during the 5:30 - 7:30 pm reception at the Prairie Art Center.
"Ra•ku showcases my latest exploration into color palettes inspired by the world around me," says Eric Stearns. "Although this body of work features my pierced and raku-fired ceramics you may already know, the forms and colors are fresh and unique."
What is Ra•ku?
Raku is a method of quickly firing ceramic artwork. Eric removes the pieces from the kiln at 1450° F, when they're still red hot. The art is given about a minute or two to cool before placing it in a metal container with a few sheets of newspaper. The paper ignites and smokes then the container is closed.
The reduction atmosphere affects the glaze colors and the smoke turns unglazed parts of the clay black. The drastic thermal shock also produces cracking in the glaze —known as crazing since it is deliberate. The piece is removed from the container once cool and cleaned up to remove residual soot and ash, revealing the brilliant glazes.
To learn more about Ra•ku and Eric Stearns, visit www.stearnsceramics.com or look for Stearns Ceramics on Instagram or Facebook.
About ERIC STEARNS
Born and raised on a ranch near North Platte, Nebraska, Eric Stearns earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Professional Emphasis in 2003 from Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. After college, he opened his first studio, Stearns Ceramics, in North Platte, NE.
After teaching full-time, as well as assisting his family on the ranch, Stearns decided to commit more fully to his art and received a Master of Fine Arts at Fort Hays State University in 2008 studying under Linda Ganstrom. He is now Associate Professor of Art and Chair of the Department of Art and Design at Doane University in Crete, Nebraska.
A short video of Eric removing his pottery can be watched here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx3pDXrpMDx/?img_index=1
