11:09 a.m., outside of Fitz Hall
Fire. Glaze. Transform. Students practice the art of raku beneath the afternoon sun.
Beneath the early afternoon sun, plumes of steam appear in the yard beside Fitz Hall. Huddled around a clamshell kiln, students participate in a centuries-old Japanese-inspired ceramic technique known as raku firing.
“Being a part of the ceramics program has been one of the most formative parts of my college experience,” said junior Whitney Johnston.
Molded pieces are newly dipped or painted with glaze before being fired at temperatures reaching over 2,000 degrees. The fresh glazes melt before turning into a new glassy finish.
When ready, students lift the pieces with tongs and dunk them into water, finishing the raku process. Results like iridescent oil spots, crackled surfaces and a changing color of glaze appear before their eyes. In under an hour, students see their creative concepts come to life.
“The faculty and my fellow students in the department have a real commitment to nurturing each artist’s creative pursuits. It has inspired me to start working in the department myself,” Johnston said.
A version of this article appears in print in the Summer 2025 University of Dayton Magazine, Page 19. EXPLORE THE ISSUE — MORE ONLINE