Papillion La Vista South High School art teacher Michael Arnold hosted his annual Raku firing day this week, bringing students and colleagues together for a full day of outdoor pottery firing rooted in the ancient Japanese art of Raku. This year's event was a collaborative effort with teachers from Papillion La Vista High School, giving students the opportunity to observe and assist as educators fired glazed pottery pieces in a dramatic, multi-stage process.

Raku firing is a technically demanding and visually stunning process that differs significantly from conventional kiln firing. Students used specific Raku clay and glazes to prepare their work, which was then fired in kilns before undergoing a fiery reduction process — a key step that causes the glazes to develop their signature unpredictable, lustrous finishes. The process required two kilns, five trash cans, a hose, wet towels, and a full complement of personal protective equipment, and unfolded across rounds of careful movement and timing throughout the day.

Safety was central to the event's organization. With careful protocols in place, students were able to engage directly with the process — moving work through each stage alongside their teachers and gaining a hands-on understanding of a centuries-old craft that few students encounter in a school setting.

The results of Raku firing are as unique as the process itself: no two pieces emerge the same. For art students, the experience connects technical skill-building with an appreciation for the unpredictable, expressive nature of materials — a lesson that resonates far beyond the ceramics classroom.