Ancient Forms is a three part series exploring the the techniques of earthenware pottery, including handbuilding forms, tools, burishing and low fire seals, as well as open firing methods. All classes are at Wildling Collaborative Arts in Eugene, Oregon.
Earthenware is a collaboration with the elements
Shaping functional forms by hand with the diverse personalities of wild clays
Polishing and decorating with simple tools and clay slips
Listening and responding to the ways of fire to transform our pottery
Learning to care for the unique needs of unglazed pottery
Earthenware is the oldest form of pottery. It is a lineage craft in many cultures around the world, each with rich traditional cuisines, historical shapes and decorations, as well as family claims to clay gathering sites. However, with the prevalence of technological method for making pottery, these ancient techniques for building with earth and firing on the earth have been less valued and visible in modern ceramics.
The very use of wild clays can be a profoundly enriching way to connect with the land and to literally build a relationship with it.
Earthenware is low fire pottery, brought to sintering temperatures (aka bisque) either on open ground or in a clay or brick oven. The clay walls of earthenware pottery remain porous, but are then sealed with beeswax, starches or fats to make them water tight. In order to make a smooth and tight seal, burnishing with a polished stone is done instead of glazing.
Earthenware has traditionally been used for water vessels, oil containers, oil lamps, cooking pots, baking dishes, bowls, cups, and other miscellaneous jars and crocks. If kept clean and dry, there should be no concern for food and drink uses.
Class Format
Saturday March 15th and 22nd from 1-4pm
The first two Saturday’s are dedicated hand building sessions with a Southern Willamette Valley wild clay blend. Each hand building class will start with a guided project. If there is time remaining after that all are welcome to make additional pieces. Participants are invited to continue their projects or make new pieces* at home or at the Sunday open studio at Wildling.
Saturday March 29th from 9am-4pm
The last Saturday of March** is our all-day pit firing ceremony at Wildling, from 9am – 4pm. This includes beeswaxing at the end of the day, so that all functional pieces can be taken home ready to use.
*Beyond the clay include in the fee for the class, up to 5 pounds of local wild clay is available for purchase to students for anyone wishing to make more pieces outside of Saturday class time to bring to the community firing.
**Open pit firing is entirely weather dependent, so in the case of rain we will be rescheduling for the following weekend, April 5th.