Pottery has always been an art and science of the earth. Foraging for local clays begins a conversation with our local landscape in which our understanding of the geological narratives and mineral personalities in our hands deepens with time and experimentation.
This four part series explores the complex chemistry and creativity of working with wild clays of the Pacific Northwest and how to integrate them into your pottery practice.
Saturdays - March 16th, 23rd, and April 6th, 13th from 11-3pm
$295 -$400 sliding scale
Register through Wildling Collaborative Arts webpage below!
The first two classes will include a hands-on exploration of the different clay personalities one finds when foraging, how to identify appropriate places for foraging, basics of blending theory, additives, and how to process clay for best results.
Everyone will make small pinch pots and tiles for testing, which will then be bisque fired and mid-ranged fired for the third and fourth classes. In the third class, we will discuss techniques for bisque firing earthenware clays and discuss the basics of natural glazes and slips.
Our final class of the series will be shorter than the others, we will look at our results and share final questions and reflections.
While our greenware is drying and firing, on the weekend of March 30th, between classes two and three of the series, there will be a pit fire demonstration. Pit fire is an elemental and engaging low-tech firing method to achieve bisque results. If you are interested in handbuilding a piece for this or participating in the firing, check out this additional offering here: Intro to Pit Firing