Mary Kenny has been a full time potter working in high fired stoneware, who is now using the low temperature firing technique known as raku. Her interest has always been in subtle forms, and she finds the soft organic decorative effects produced by this process, help to create visually peaceful and highly tactile pots.
Mary is now specialising in work using the ” naked raku process”. Pieces are made and burnished, fired, then a glaze is applied over a separating medium. After heating in a kiln to approximately 950 – 1000 degrees centigrade, making the glaze molten ,the pot is removed with tongs while red hot from the kiln and placed in a sealed container, igniting the sawdust within, creating a carbonising atmosphere. When cool the glaze is removed , like shelling a hard boiled egg, hence the term naked raku. This will reveal decorative markings and designs which enhance the pure forms.