The Ceramic Initiative 2027 Jan 8-10

Class Description

The Ceramic Initiative 2027 3 days in the studio Friday January 8 through Sunday January 10 Classes run 9:30am - 4:30pm with 24 hour access Translucent Table Lamps with Mark Epstein: Throwing, altering and slab construction focusing on the surface to take advantage of the translucent nature of our Frost clay. Lamp hardware included. Alternative Firing with Randy Brodnax: many methods, many favorites but only Randy will decide what is on tap for the day. Some class favorites are always fuming with oxides, clear and white crackle and naked raku. Spending the day with a national treasure is a rare treat and not to be missed. Bring up to 6 pots measuring no more than 9 inches tall and 6 inches wide, fired to cone 08 for best results. Pots are always on hand for purchase. Do not bring plates or bowls please. Figurative and Small Scale Sculpture with Pat Johnson**: Saturday Night Artist's Talk and Dinner 5-7pm (dinner is included in the price, additional guests $35) FINE PRINT: This is a 3 day, rotating workshop where you’ll enjoy fundays in the studio with favorite teachers Mark Epstein, Randy Brodnax and Pat Johnson; lunch served daily plus our Saturday evening Artist’s Talk and dinner. Please bring a hand made mug for our mug exchange on day 1, bring daily side dish (salads, dips, nuts, cold cuts, crackers) so we can enjoy a hearty lunch each day ** Life as art, Art as life Small figurative sculpture class: this unique opportunity to work with clay artist, Pat Johnson, offers a chance to ask the artist - “what the hell are you thinking?” In an atmosphere that generates dialog, exploration, and problem solving you are asked to think about current events, issues, or ideas which you are truly passionate about and that will inform your work in some way. Pat will demonstrate one of her building methods for making her small self-portraits using coil, slab and attached appendages. We will also discuss adding narrative, thematic, and symbolic content to figurative works. By exploring universal themes, we can make work that is meaningful to ourselves as artists and affect the viewer as well. Everyone is welcome, and students may choose to build figures and scenes depending on the level of skill and experience. We will discuss personal style, emotional expression, content, and context while learning hand-formed construction methods. Various carving tools will be introduced. Pat will share her varied surface decorating techniques and more!