Ceramics Workshops

2021 Workshop Season Update:

Touchstone is pleased to be able to offer a modified 2021 workshop season. Based on best practices related to Covid-19, workshops will run at a reduced capacity of 6 participants, all multi-occupancy lodging has been converted to single-occupancy, and mask and social distancing protocols will be strictly enforced. Our updated cancellation policy* can be found​​ HERE and our Covid-19 Policies and Procedures* can be found​​ HERE

*Subject to change.

2021 Workshop Schedule

These workshops are no longer open for enrollment.

APR 23-25 | 3-Day
MAY 28-30 | 3-Day
SEP 25-27 | 3-Day
OCT 22-24 | 3-Day

Community Wood Firings
Instructors: Meghan Burke & Daniel Tomcik

$230 Member | $260 Non-Member
$150 Stand-In Fee (required if not working your kiln shifts)
Includes Materials and Studio Fees

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment.

The Touchstone Center for Crafts wood kiln is a two-chamber noborigama, built by Kevin Crowe in 1991. The first chamber is wood only and the second chamber is wood/soda. Each chamber is roughly 35 cubic feet. Each participant is encouraged to bring 7 cubic feet per share. A variety of slips and glazes will be prepared, with the formulas available to participants upon request. Firing will begin after loading and continue for approximately 48 hours. We will work around the clock in shifts of 1-2 people. If you would like a share but are unable to work your shifts, an additional $150 ‘Stand-In Fee’ is required in order to have someone cover your shifts. All firings are led by Dan Tomcik, our studio and grounds manager, who is an accomplished ceramist and well versed in firing this kiln.
*For questions on how much work to bring, please contact Dan Tomcik directly (412) 773-2682 or noborigama1@gmail.com

Meghan Burke is from Manasquan, a small beach town on the coast of New Jersey.  She graduated in 2015 from Saint Joseph's University with a Bachelors of Art and then traveled to several residencies across the U.S, including: Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Byrdcliffe Arts Guild, and Elsewhere Studios. Meghan now resides and works in Pittsburgh. There she discovered Touchstone Center for Crafts and has worked there as an assistant in 2017 as well as the ceramics technician in 2018 and 19. She is an avid animal lover, nature enthusiast, and novice gardener. She started her ceramics career as a sculptor but has now found a love of functional pottery, using her passion of plants and flowers to inspire her hand pinched and coiled pottery.

Instagram: @meghanburkestudio

Daniel Tomcik is a functional potter born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Daniel started working in clay at California University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his BFA with a concentration in ceramics under Richard Miecznikowski. While in college, Daniel worked at Standard Ceramic Supply Company as the lab tech intern from 2013-2015. He was a resident artist at Touchstone Center for Crafts in 2014 and also worked at Touchstone as a studio assistant in 2014 and 2015. Late 2015, Daniel moved to Baltimore, Maryland to study under Jim Dugan as the wood kiln assistant at Baltimore Clayworks, firing the Noborigama nearly every weekend. Summer 2016, Daniel was accepted to Watershed Ceramics as studio staff for the season. Upon returning to Pennsylvania, he moved to Touchstone to complete an intensive residency focusing on local clays and atmospheric, reduction firing and cooling. He currently lives in Pittsburgh and is also Touchstone’s Studio and Grounds Manager.

Instagram: @tomcikpots 

JUN 21-25 | 5-DAY (MON-FRI)

Intuitive Handbuilding

Instructor: Melissa Weiss

All Levels
$585 Member | $615 Non-Member
$100-$140 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment.

JUN 28-JUL 2 | 5-DAY (MON-FRI)

Coils, Cuts, & Clay

Instructor: Julie Wiggins

All Levels
$585 Member | $615 Non-Member
$125-$165 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment.

JUL 12-16 | 5-DAY (MON-FRI)
Resist It!
Instructor: Adrienne Eliades

All Levels
$585 Member | $615 Non-Member
$110-$140 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment

JUL 18-23 | TEEN WEEK | 6-DAY (SUN-FRI)

Illustrative Clay: Form, Function, and Gumption

Instructor: Benjamin Lambert

All Levels (Ages 14-17)
$615 Non-Member
$75 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

Teen Week is no longer open for enrollment

JUL 26-30 | EDUCATORS’ RETREAT | 5-DAY (MON-FRI) 

Murals in Clay: Remix

Instructor: Chuck Purviance

All Levels
$585 Member | $615 Non-Member
$90-$120 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment

AUG 2-6 | NATURE WEEK | 5-DAY (MON-FRI)

From The Source:
Working with Native Materials

Instructor: Nate Willever

All Levels
$585 Member | $615 Non-Member
$90-$130 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment

AUG 9-13 | 5-DAY (MON-FRI)

Human Figure: Heads & Hands

Instructor: Richard James

All Levels
$585 Member | $615 Non-Member
$105-$145 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment

AUG 16-20 | 5-DAY (MON-FRI)

Mold-Making & Slip-Casting
for the Studio Artist

Instructor: Sigrid Zahner

All Levels
$585 Member | $615 Non-Member
$85-$115 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment

AUG 28-30 | 3-DAY (SAT-MON)

Seductive Elegance: Carving

Instructor: Yoshi Fujii

Intermediate – Advanced  
$410 Member | $440 Non-Member
$40-$70 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment

Gain a solid introduction to carving techniques and other surface embellishments using slip and wax. Yoshi will demonstrate using the potter’s wheel to create functional objects (simple cup & bowl forms), which will serve as a collection point for visual inspiration. Explore the elegant quality of porcelain and seductive beauty possible through hand-carved lines, patterns, motifs, and slip trailing to create visual and physical depth for tactile communication. Previous clay experience is required. Open to handbuilders or potters. You may choose to bring leather-hard pots or tiles and design references; grog-free clay is recommended. This workshop does not include firing. There will be an option to leave work to be fired at a later date for an extra fee.

Yoshi, from Fukuoka, Japan, earned a B.F.A. from University of Southern Mississippi and a M.F.A. from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He was a resident artist and instructor at Baltimore Clayworks in Maryland for 8 successful years until he accepted his teaching residency in U.A.E. in 2016. While Yoshi leads workshops and demonstrations at colleges and arts organizations including National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, his delicately carved functional and sculptural art pieces have been published, exhibited, and collected internationally.

Instructor website: yoshifujii.com
Instagram: @yoshifujiiceramics

SEP 4-5 | 2-DAY (SAT-SUN)

The Bottomless Oval as
Functional Form & Canvas

Instructor: Kyle Houser

Intermediate
$300 Member | $330 Non-Member
$40-$70 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment

Explore the oval form as a two-part, wheel-thrown shape in this workshop with artist Kyle Houser. In his work, Kyle uses the larger, somewhat flattened space of the oval form as a canvas for decoration. Learn how this specific form lends itself to a variety of functionalities including mugs, flower vases, and pitchers. A variety of surface decoration techniques including water abrasion, slip use, brushing glazes, and post glazing techniques will be covered. This workshop does not include a firing. There will be an option to leave work to be fired at a later date for an extra fee.

Kyle works full time as the Creative Director for the Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media. His work is exhibited in galleries, museums, and festivals throughout the U.S and is included in private and public collections nationally. Kyle has been involved in arts and education for over 20 years, including teaching in public schools, private schools and internationally. Along with teaching, his experience includes arts management, gallery direction and curatorial work as well as curriculum and program development for higher education, public non-profits and residency programs like the School of Art within the Chautauqua Institution in western New York.

Instagram: @KHouser922

SEP 11-13 | 3-DAY (SAT-MON)

Press Molds & Terra Sigillata

Instructor: Mark Arnold

All Levels
$410 Member | $440 Non-Member
$50-$80 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment

Create press molds made of plaster to be used in combination with wheel thrown and handbuilt forms made from clay. Explore a variety of utilitarian forms from cups to vases, and discuss how to use carving, inlay, and terra sigillata as surface decoration to make each piece unique to you. This workshop does not include a firing. There will be an option to leave work to be fired at a later date for an extra fee.

Mark is a studio potter living and working in Elizabeth City, NC. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, received his B.F.A in ceramics from Edinboro University, and his M.F.A. from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. Mark’s work is represented by multiple galleries around the country and was recently named one of Ceramics Monthly’s 2018 Emerging Artists.

Instructor website: markarnoldceramics.com
Instagram: @markarnold_ceramics

SEP 18-19 | 2-DAY (SAT-SUN)

Making Functional Pottery

Instructor: Tim Sherman

Intermediate-Advanced
$300 Member | $330 Non-Member
$40-$70 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment

In this intensive two-day course, work to strengthen your functional pottery making techniques and take a deep look at how form and function work together to make successful pottery. Demonstrations will focus on: effective centering techniques, proper hand and body position, slip and surface decoration, trimming, and many other useful studio practices. Variations on cups, mugs, pitchers, bowls, plates, bottles, and other functional vessels will be the emphasis. This workshop does not include a firing. There will be an option to leave work to be fired at a later date for an extra fee.

Tim is a studio potter from Frederick, Md. He holds a B.S. in art and design from Towson University and currently exhibits his work in galleries across the United States. His work references both historical and modern wood firing techniques. The unique palate of colors and textures created during a long firing heavily influence Sherman’s forms and surfaces. Evidence of flame pattering and firing schedule play a huge part in the aesthetic of his work, while smooth glazes and ergonomic features add in functionality. Sherman single fires his work in a large anagama style kiln located next to his studio on his property.

Instructor website: shermanceramics.com
Instagram: @shermanceramics

SEP 25-27 | 3-DAY (SAT-MON)

Face Facts: The Human Portrait Bust

Instructor: Kevin Rohde

All Levels
$410 Member | $440 Non-Member
$70-$100 Materials and Studio Fees
Download Materials List​​

This workshop is no longer open for enrollment

Create a life-size human portrait bust using the solid building technique with expert guidance. With an emphasis on the expressive qualities of the face, you will learn about the anatomical structure of the head and develop techniques to accurately portray facial features. All stages of the building process will be covered. This workshop does not include a firing. There will be an option to leave work to be fired at a later date for an extra fee.

Kevin is a Sculptor and ceramist living in Baltimore, MD. He received his BA from Keystone College and his MFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Kevin has completed numerous residencies at art centers such as Northern Clay Center (MN), Baltimore Clayworks (MD), Tainan National University of the Arts (Taiwan), Red Lodge Clay Center (MT), and most recently Watershed center for the Ceramic Arts (ME). He maintains a rigorous studio practice, exhibiting internationally, and teaching workshops around the country. Kevin is currently the Artist and Education Associate at Baltimore Clayworks, and Adjunct Professor of Ceramics at Towson University in Towson, MD.

Instructor website: rohdeworks.com
Instagram: @kevinjrohde

Workshops are filled on a first-come-first-served basis. Many fill quickly. Please register at least 15 days ahead of the start of any workshop so that we can count you in! Touchstone makes the determination of whether a workshop will run 14 days in advance of all workshops’ scheduled start date, primarily based on the number of participants registered at that time. 

A processing fee of $15 will be added to 1-5 day workshops.

Nonrefundable COVID-19 Fee: A $10 (1- & 2-day workshops), $15 (3-day workshops), and $20 (5-day workshops) COVID-19 fee will be charged per participant, per workshop during the 2021 season to help offset the extraordinary additional and increased expenses to Touchstone for cleaning, sanitizing, PPE, disposables, and other costs directly related to ensuring health, safety, and social distancing requirements as outlined by the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This fee is nonrefundable.

To view a full listing of the Terms and Conditions as part of your enrollment, download the 2021 Student Guide.

Touchstone Center for Crafts prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or association preference. Touchstone Center for Crafts also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to its facilities and programming.