Ancient Forms is a five 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 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 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 Sept. 28th & Oct. 5th from 2-5pm
The first two Saturday’s are dedicated hand building sessions with a wild clay blend from 2-5pm. Each hand building class will start with a guided project. If there is time remaining after that all are welcome to make additional piece. Participants are invited to continue their projects or make new pieces* at home or at the Sunday Open Studio at Wildling.

Saturday Oct. 12th from 2-5pm
The third Saturday we will focus on completing projects, burnishing, and decorating our pieces with clay paint.

Saturday Oct. 26th from 10am-4pm and Sunday Oct. 27th from 2-4pm
The last Saturday of October** is our all-day pit firing ceremony at Wildling, from 10am – 4pm, then all are invited back on Sunday to beeswax our pottery and close our series together. If you are unable to attend the beeswaxing, we will do it for you and you can come to pick them up sometime the following week.  

* Wild clay in packages of 1-5lbs will be available for purchase for anyone wishing to make more pieces outside of Saturday class time.
**Open pit firing is entirely weather dependent, so in the case of rain we will be rescheduling for the weekend of Nov. 9th and 10th.