22 SEPT – 5 OCT 2019 NATURE TRADITION with Adam Field

email us at gayacac@gayaceramic.com for more details!

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.