This vase was glazed with a copper-based glaze and fired in an outdoor raku kiln, being pulled from the kiln at about 1800° and placed in a metal bucket with shredded newspaper which ignited due to the extreme heat of the piece. Once sealed, it stayed in the smoky, oxygen-starved bucket for 12 minutes, developing flashes of copper and a metallic iridescence. A black cabochon was added for the center of the flower. Raku pieces are usually still porous and not designed to hold water, but the interior of this vase was coated to be watertight.
Top Diameter: 3-1’2”
Bottom Diameter: 2-3/4”
Height: 8-1/4”
The Escondida Mine in Chili is the world’s largest copper mine. Environmental impacts of the mine include severe water depletion and aquifer damage in the arid Atacama Desert, leading to a decrease in the water table and a loss of wetlands and animals who depend on the water. To address these issues, Escondida is transitioning to using seawater instead of groundwater. By 2032, seawater is projected to make up 68% of its total water usage. Of course, other environmental issues remain, including air and water pollution from toxic elements and acid drainage from waste rock and tailings.
This vase was glazed with a copper-based glaze and fired in an outdoor raku kiln, being pulled from the kiln at about 1800° and placed in a metal bucket with shredded newspaper which ignited due to the extreme heat of the piece. Once sealed, it stayed in the smoky, oxygen-starved bucket for 12 minutes, developing flashes of copper and a metallic iridescence. A black cabochon was added for the center of the flower. Raku pieces are usually still porous and not designed to hold water, but the interior of this vase was coated to be watertight.
Top Diameter: 3-1’2”
Bottom Diameter: 2-3/4”
Height: 8-1/4”
The Escondida Mine in Chili is the world’s largest copper mine. Environmental impacts of the mine include severe water depletion and aquifer damage in the arid Atacama Desert, leading to a decrease in the water table and a loss of wetlands and animals who depend on the water. To address these issues, Escondida is transitioning to using seawater instead of groundwater. By 2032, seawater is projected to make up 68% of its total water usage. Of course, other environmental issues remain, including air and water pollution from toxic elements and acid drainage from waste rock and tailings.
