2010 Ceramics Classes

April 23 - 25
Exploring Raku
Registration is Closed
Joe Sendek • All Levels • $250

April 30 - May 2
Hand Formed Clay Weekend
Registration is Closed
Joe Sendek • All Levels • $250 

May 7- 9
Production Skills to Develop Personal Expression: Manufacturing Skills
Registration is Closed
Jerry Wagner • Intermediate/Advance • $250
This class will address not only the finished pot, but also the skill sets necessary to define, refine, and make a piece that is repeatable. Use the concepts and practices of production pottery to help define the means and skill level required to produce satisfying repeatable work. This class will focus on developing manufacturing skills to produce a production series.
Minimum age requirement: 18 years old 
Jerry’s Instructor Page

May 14-16
Narrative Sculpture
Mary Cloonan • All Levels • $250
This workshop will encourage artists to explore personal symbols and memories, transforming them into ceramic expression. Delving into images gleaned from the ordinary objects that one is drawn to, an artist can develop a visual vocabulary of forms and textures to then ‘write’ a story. With clay and the creative process, we will emphasize the importance of being open to possibility by trying to find magic in the mundane. This workshop will utilize hand-building techniques and tips for constructing sculpture as a single piece or from multiple components.  Surface discussion will include the use of slip, under-glaze, glaze and post-firing materials. The incorporation of mixed media and found objects to complete the vision will be discussed and encouraged.
Mary’s Instructor Page

June 6 - 12
Beginning to Intermediate Wheel-Thrown Pottery
Joe Sendek • Beginner/Intermediate • $495
Immerse your mind, heart, and spirit into the ancient and expressive world of clay! This week will allow each student a chance to focus, explore, and expand his or her artistic and creative self. Especially helpful to those with basic throwing skills, this class is designed to encourage the development of new skills and techniques with the goal of being able to fire work in electric, gas, and Raku kilns. Bring your tools, ideas, and creative energies for a week that will lift you to the next level of working with clay.
Joe’s Instructor Page

June 13-19
Intermediate to Advanced Sets & Teapots
Joe Sendek • Intermediate/Advanced • $495
This class is designed for students who have some basic knowledge of working with the potter’s wheel. This week long class focuses on deepening our understanding of clay as an expressive material. Each student will be encouraged to explore and expand their skills of centering, formatting, trimming, and glazing. Special emphasis will be placed on throwing pots, lids, teapots, and handles and working with both smaller and larger amounts of clay. Come and enjoy the magic of Touchstone while immersed in the amazing world of pottery.
Joe’s Instructor Page

June 20 - 26
Playing with Fire
Jim Dugan • Intermediate/Advanced • $525
The focus of this intense workshop will be on the stacking and firing of Touchstone’s two chamber noborigama style wood burning kiln. The kiln will be fired for 24-30 hours with wood only in the first chamber, and a small amount of salt added to the second chamber. A variety of glazing and surface possibilities will be demonstrated and discussed prior to loading the kiln. During the workshop there will also be time for throwing/making and finishing as well as firing in the gas kiln. Participants should bring 20-30 pieces of bisque ware of various sizes with a maximum dimension of 18”. All pieces should be made of cone 10 stoneware or porcelain.
Jim’s Instructor Page

June 27- July 3
Nature and Clay
Nancy McChesney & Rebecca Gartley • All Levels • $495
Materials Fee Payable to Instructor: $40 (includes clay and glaze)
This class is a hand building course working mostly with slabs. We will be inspired by and utilize all the materials around us to create unique and functional pieces. At Touchstone, the beauty of nature and all its textures abound, making it the perfect place to bring nature and clay together. Nancy and Becky have developed a style of hand building that is user friendly for the clay beginner as well as the experienced artist. We will make decorative "wheel" stamps for our pieces in the ancient Korean (ongii) style, and we will use leaves, bark, etc. to create dramatic textures. Mugs, bowls, plates, pitchers, pockets, boxes, and vases are just a few of the possibilities. You will come away from this week with some very unique and delightful art pieces.
Nancy's Instructor Page
Rebecca's Instructor Page

July 4-10
Hybrid Surface and Fire at Touchstone
Brad Birkhimer • All Levels • $495
Have you had an interest in firing a wood, gas, salt, or soda kiln? This class will explore and cover all four! We will discuss form, surface, slips, and glaze in a hybrid firing. Working primarily on the wheel and addressing simply slab-built forms for function and decoration. Stamps, heavy slip, colored slip, flashing slip, and various glazes will be used. Loading and firing the second chamber of the wood kiln to cone 10-11 with wood and gas, then using both table and salt and baking soda to complete our pottery hybridization. Please bring 5-15 pieces of bisque fired pottery. Stoneware and Porcelain clay will be available for the class, along with slips and glazes.
Brad’s Instructor Page

July 11 – 17
Altering Functional Pots
Susan Beecher • All Levels • $525
This hands-on workshop will focus on different altering methods to use with wheel-thrown vessels. Demonstrations will include different methods for making square, rectangular and oval forms, as well as many varied techniques for altering bowls.  Decorative and functional handles will be covered we well as slip decorating, faceting and flutting. Students should bring 12 pieces of bisqueware for the firing of the gas kiln to Cone 10. Come and enjoy a relaxed and supportive atmosphere and receive personal instruction on your own level.
Susan’s Instructor Page

July 18 – 24
Pinch Pots & Pit Firing: Ancient Methods for Modern Times
Jimmy Clark • All Levels • $500
This workshop is designed to dispel the notion that pinching is merely a beginner’s technique. We will explore numerous variations on the method including: creating larger forms, working intuitively, exploring asymmetrical forms, incorporating found objects, burnishing and applying terra sigilatta. The workshop will conclude with a sawdust firing in which bisque pots will be buried in sawdust and smoldered overnight. This smokes the pots in an unpredictable manner. Multiple techniques to encourage variations will be demonstrated.
Jimmy’s Instructor Page

July 25 – 31
Teaching Clay to Children
Mary Cloonan • All Levels • $495
This intensive workshop will provide art educators the foundation needed to teach ceramics to children.  Basic ceramic techniques will be discussed and demonstrated, focusing on the development of hand-building skills; pinch, coil and slab construction. Participants will use commercial materials and homemade tools to enhance the projects and classroom experience.  General kiln loading and firing schedules will also be covered. Teachers will have some hands-on experience with projects and be given many hand-outs that may be modified to fit any age group or skill level.
Mary’s Instructor Page

August 1-7
Wheel-Thrown Pottery
Valda Cox • All Levels • $495
Materials Fee Payable to Touchstone: $35
Perfect your throwing skills with Valda Cox. Using both porcelain and stoneware clays, you will be encouraged to develop your own style. Get involved in glaze mixing and learn the process and ceremony of firing both electric and gas kilns.
Valda’s Instructor Page

August 8-14
Wheel-Thrown Pottery
Valda Cox • All Levels • $495
Perfect your throwing skills with Valda Cox. Using both porcelain and stoneware clays, you will be encouraged to develop your own style. Get involved in glaze mixing and learn the process and ceremony of firing both electric and gas kilns.
Valda’s Instructor Page

August 15 – 21
Creative Ways with Colored Clay
Chris Campbell • All Levels • $495
Materials Fee Payable to Instructor: $70
Chris will teach coloring clay, mixing slips, creating secondary colors, fading colors, creating murrini patterns, and using these patterns in various ways. She will also demonstrate layering slips and carving through them, sprigging with slips, and creating faux surfaces. Familiarity with clay will enhance your learning experience.
Minimum age requirement: 18 years old 
Chris' Instructor Page

August 22 – 28
Seductive Elegance
Yoshi Fujii • Intermediate- Advanced (Beg. w/Approval) • $495
This workshop will focus on two elements; form and surface.  Using the potter’s wheel as a foundation, Yoshi will demonstrate and assist participants in creating both strictly functional objects – cups, plates, and bowls, and sculptural vessels with darting and assembling.  The ceramic surface will serve as a collection point for inspiration.  Students will experience the elegant quality of porcelain while exploring the complex relationship and limitless potential between form and surface.  Previous wheel throwing experience is recommended. 
Yoshii’s Instructor Page

September 24-26
Production Skills to Develop Personal Expression: Surface Treatment, Glazing, and Firing
Jerry Wagner • Intermediate/Advance • $250
This class will address not only the finished pot, but also the skill sets necessary to define, refine and make a piece that is repeatable. Use the concepts and practices of production pottery to help define the means and skill level required to produce satisfying repeatable work. This class will focus surface treatments, glazing, and firing pieces to produce a production series.
Minimum age requirement: 18 years old 
Jerry’s Instructor Page

October 1-3
Exploring Raku
Joe Sendek  • All Levels • $250
Originally taken from the Chinese, the Raku firing method is sometimes known as “happy circumstances.” Each piece of pottery may be produced exactly the same way, glazed the same way, and Raku kiln fired the same way, but each piece will yield different results (or happy circumstances!). In this way, Raku has come to be identified with being happy with each moment and the results obtained within each moment. In this two-day intensive workshop, explore Raku by working with various glazes and combustibles. Bring bisque fired pieces with you, if you have them. If not, there will be pieces available for you to experiment with.
Joe’s Instructor Page

October 8-10
Hot Metal/Hot Clay: Earth-Fire-Metal
Joe Sendek & Dave Olson • All Levels • $250
Iron and clay, a paradox? Actually, the two have more in common than you might think. Both are plastic and malleable at certain temperatures, are capable of exhibiting a myriad of textures and patinas, and may work mechanically or by hand. Most important, both require fire to take them to their ultimate form. Time will divided between the blacksmith studio and the pottery studio as students learn fundamentals exercises to advanced forming techniques. Emphasis will be on the creation of objects that successfully integrate these two amazingly plastic art forms. Students will work in three modes: traditional pottery forms with iron as a supporting material, traditional hand-forged forms, and free-form assemblages.
Joe’s Instructor PageDave’s Instructor Page