Time to heat it up

Suzie Harrison

Things are going to get a little heated at the Festival of Arts May 2

and 3, but no one seems to be concerned. They’re looking forward to

it. Renowned raku artist Paul Soldner will be featured at a weekend

lecture and demonstration open to the public.

“We are thrilled and honored to have Paul Soldner -- one of the

most influential ceramic artist of the past 50 years -- to launch the

first of a series of guests artists’ workshops for the Festival,”

said Sharbie Higuchi, Festival marketing director. “Those who attend

the two-day workshop will have the rare opportunity to experience the

techniques of this American master and gain insight about the man

behind the art.”

For more than 30 years, Soldner has been working in the art of

ceramics. He has had 178 solo exhibits, 400 invitational exhibits and

has given more than 400 lectures, seminars, demonstrations and

workshops.

He wrote the book “Kilns and Their Construction,” founded the

Anderson Arts Center in Snowmass, Colo. and is the creator of the art

department for Claremont School.

Monica Dunham, Festival artist and coordinator for the event, is

ecstatic about Soldner being at the Festival. He’s been a big

influence on her art.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for this area,” Dunham said.

“He’s interested in the arts, not just in ceramics and poetry,

because he’s kind of a renaissance man with so much to say.”

At 82, Soldner continues to learn and grow, while experiencing the

arts on different levels.

“It will be a demonstration, discussion, and I’ll talk about my

life, stories and the ceramics world,” Soldner said. “Their will be

some entertainment watching me make some things, and with a good

group, they will ask a lot of questions, and we’ll have a good

discussion.”

His style of talking and philosophy seems to be laid back, backed

up by decades of legendary work. He exudes confidence, but not in a

cocky way. He’s actually very peaceful -- but not afraid to

experiment -- and as such he pioneered what is known as the Western

world’s style of raku.

He said that he first got into raku back in the 1960s.

“I got interested in what we thought was raku, but it was

different from the Japanese,” Soldner said. “With fire itself, each

piece is put into a kiln at 1,800-degrees. We do it with direct

observation, and when we see the glaze, it’s finished.”

That’s the shortened version of the process.

In the 1970s, Soldner became interested in what is called low-fire

salt firing, or fuming, which he uses for bronze and clay sculpture.

“With sculpture, it’s fun to discover what I’ll end up with,”

Soldner said.

Dunham described the process of raku as very exciting. Through the

process, the essences of fire, earth and chance merge together, and

every piece comes out differently. Philosophically, Dunham said, it’s

a good way to let go of the ego.

Soldner said that on the first day, he’ll be doing a demonstration

using a potter’s wheel. He’ll let the parts dry overnight.

“The next day, I’ll assemble it into some kind of sculpture,”

Soldner said. “It’s always a surprise just taking these random parts

and thinking how to turn [them] into a sculpture weighing about 200

pounds and being 25 to 30 inches.”

“The Festival’s board has made a commitment to expanding

year-round events and programming,” Higuchi said. “This is a first of

more to come.”

The event will be held at the Festival grounds, at 650 Laguna

Canyon Road. The clinic hours on May 2 are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,

with a wine and cheese reception and book signing from 4:30 to 6:30

p.m. On May 3, the clinic will be held will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are available for $85 for both days, but Festival members

get a $15 discount. Tickets are $30 for Friday only and $50 for

Saturday only.

For tickets or information, call 494-1145 or go online to

www.foapom.com.