Nature Tradition
with Adam Field
September 22-October 5,
2019
In this two-week workshop
Adam Field will demonstrate his methods for carving intricate pattern on a
variety of wheel-thrown porcelain forms.
He will also demonstrate traditional Korean Onggi coil and paddle
pottery techniques. From ancient Korean techniques, to innovative solutions for
timeless problems, participants will develop a new perspective on creating and
decorating functional pottery. Participants
will learn new skills for mapping out and carving geometric patterns in
clay. Generous discussions about studio
practice, aesthetics, materials, ceramic history, and promotion and marketing
strategies for the studio potter are certain to encourage individual discovery,
growth, and development of fresh ideas. Participants will gain the skills and
confidence to create and decorate work in their own voice.
I am fascinated
with antique artifacts, the way they can speak of mastery of lost peoples,
places, and cultures. This inspires me to create works that both radiate
history and capture my own place and time. I work toward a clean aesthetic that
celebrates the masterful simplicity of antique Far Eastern pottery, while
retaining the modest utility of colonial American wares. The surface of my
pottery is meticulously carved with intricate designs that borrow from nature
and incorporate the human touch. Much of the carving on my work is informed by
pattern languages found in indigenous fiber art, such as Hawaiian tapa, Incan
cordage, and Zulu basketry.
Sunday, Sept. 22: Welcome Dinner and slide talk
Nature Tradition. Adam will discuss
and share images and videos highlighting the inspirations, motivations, and
influences that inform his work.
Monday, Sept. 23: Building
blocks for a strong foundation
Demonstration 1, A Fresh Approach: Step-by-step detailed
techniques for wedging, centering,
opening, compressing, pulling walls, shaping, and finishing a thrown cylinder
will allow students of all levels to fine tune their skills upon a solid
foundation.
Demonstration 2, Cups and mugs: Demonstrate a variety of cup forms
on the wheel with an emphasis on exploration of rims, volume, interior space,
handles, function, and feet.
Afternoon: Open studio time, with plenty of personal tutorial
support from Adam
Tuesday,
Sept. 24: Exploring volume and form on
the wheel
Demonstration 1, Throwing continues with demonstrations of full
volume vases and covered jars using a double ribbing technique. Thrown lids and
lid seats also demonstrated.
Demonstration 2, Cups: Pattern layout, carving, trimming, cleanup,
and finishing.
Afternoon: Open studio
time, with plenty of personal tutorial support from Adam
Wednesday,
Sept. 25: Plates/Platters/Bowls
Emphasis on function and form.
Designing for decoration and function.
-Intensive decoration layout demo:
using lasers for precision pattern layout.
-Pattern layout for stretching
carving patterns over large voluminous forms.
Afternoon: Open studio time, with plenty of personal tutorial
support from Adam
Thursday, Sept.
26: Larger forms: smarter
not harder
Approaches to throwing smarter not
harder to achieve larger sophisticated forms.
Afternoon: Open studio time, with plenty of personal tutorial
support from Adam
Friday, Sept.
27: Trimming and Finalizing Forms
Bringing small and larger works to
conclusion
Continuing to develop and employ
carving layout and techniques
-Afternoon: Open studio time, with plenty of personal tutorial
support from Adam
Saturday,
Sept.28: Final Marks
Final trimming, carving details for
smaller works.
Bisque kiln loaded for long candle
and firing beginning at night.
Sunday, Sept.
29: FREE
DAY
(Bisque
kiln firing.)
Monday, Sept.
30: ONGGI
Pots
Onggi from start of class to lunch,
continued after lunch and into mid-afternoon. Large (150 liter) Onggi jar.
Demonstration will have images and video from my time in Korea during my
apprenticeship as well as live demonstration of Onggi method.
Throwing large sectional forms: throwing
floor, lower wall, and upper wall as 3 separate parts of the same pot.
(These
works will be for practice only—not to be fired during the workshop)
Tuesday, Oct.
1: Glaze Intro
Unloading bisque wares.
Beginning discussion of glaze
possibilities, perfecting glaze application, etc.
Continue working on (assembling) sectional
large forms. Finalize Onggi pots.
Wednesday,
Oct. 2: Glaze
Day
A day of glazing.
Decorative carving of Onggi vessels
(optional).
Thursday,
Oct. 3: EXCURSION
A visit to the Javanese big pot
makers, plus and excursion TBD…
(Glaze kiln firing.)
Friday, Oct.
4: Photography and
Social Media
An
in-depth presentation on my approach to photography and content production for
Instagram and Facebook (documenting the studio process)
Unloading
the kiln in the afternoon.
Photography
session.
Saturday,
Oct. 5: Conclusion
Final display and discussion of
finished works. Packing and concluding
after a last lunch together.
