Gaya Ceramic Arts Center Workshop list in 2013

February, 16-March 2, Explore, Experiment, Express: the Relationship of Form and Surface
Instructors: Sang Roberson
Course Level: All level welcome
Cost: USD $1900 (* includes all studio materials, firings, instruction; lunches, excursions, welcome dinner, and transport during workshop.
NOT including: Accommodations. Accommodation can be booked independently, or through Gaya CAC)

Using air as armature, Sang will lead and explorative two weeks of building pots that reflect the organic forms of nature. Techniques including slab construction, slip-trailing, sgraffito, slump molds, hump molds, and press molds will be experimented with and utilized. For an expressive, finished surface, terra sigillata will be cooked and layered to burnish the skins if each participant’s creations. Raku and pit-firing will be the final finishing of the work.

March 3 - March 17, The Art Of Raku Firing
Instructors: Candone Wharton
Course Level: All level welcome
Cost: USD $1900 (* includes all studio materials, firings, instruction; lunches, excursions, welcome dinner, and transport during workshop.
NOT including: Accommodations. Accommodation can be booked independently, or through Gaya CAC)

The term Raku (enjoyment, ease) is a unique form of Japanese pottery that was traditionally and exclusively used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony in the 16th century. Candone Wharton, an experienced Raku artist for over 30 years, will share all her extensive skills and knowledge by introducing basic techniques of pottery making, with an emphasis on exploring different tools to create the surface design. Participants will create numerous individual pieces of their own using both throwing and hand building methods. The workshop will begin with an evening presentation on the history and techniques of Raku, and will culminate at the end of two weeks in a gallery display of the participants’ efforts and a lively discussion of the entire experience.

 

April 14-27, Anagama Woodfiring
Instructors: Barbara Campbell-Allen and Hillary Kane 
Course Level: Open to ANY level of experience
Include: all studio materials, firing, instruction, lunches during studio days, and excursions around BaliAccommodation: can be booked independently, or through Gaya CAC (see our list of recommended hotels)

Delighting in the element of serendipity and spontaneous beauty, this workshop will explore the kiss of flame and the natural glaze effects of atmospheric wood-firing in Gaya CAC’s anagama (Japanese-style wood kiln) with visiting woodfire specialist, Barbara Cambell-Allen (Australia) and in-house wood-firer, Hillary Kane. Participants will experiment with the variables of clay bodies and flashing slips, surface texture and vessel shape as design factors influencing the subtle and dramatic effects of a natural ash surface. An intensive two-weeks: work will be produced in the studio, loaded, fired for 2 ½ days of stoking, and then unloaded after cooling for the work of the flame to be revealed and displayed. Evenings will be punctuated with slides and films on wood-fire.

June 14-283, Decorating with Fire: Explore Texture and Surface Suitable for Soda Firing
Instructors: Maryke Henderson
Course Level: Open to ANY level of experience
Include: all studio materials, firing, instruction, lunches during studio days, and excursions around Bali. Accommodation: can be booked independently, or through Gaya CAC (see our list of recommended hotels)

Explore the surface suitable for soda firing using inspiration from a rich cultural and natural environment. Visiting soda vapour glazing ceramic artist, Maryke Henderson will explore factors which influence the exciting and subtle effects of soda firing using slips over various clay bodies. During this course the participants will use excursions into the environment to create design ideas, decoration and texture. We will look altered form construction methods using both hand and wheel formed work and the combination of both techniques. This course will be suitable for both throwers and hand-builders.

June 30-July 13, Figurative Forming and Firing: Hand-built Sculpture
Instructors: Iosifina and Maro
Course Level: Open to ANY level of experience
Include: all studio materials, firing, instruction, lunches during studio days, and excursions around Bali. Accommodation: can be booked independently, or through Gaya CAC (see our list of recommended hotels)

This duo of Greek ceramicists, both known for their technical prowess as sculptors in the medium, will lead an unparalleled workshop in exploring the figure (in representation and abstraction) through clay. Attention will be paid to the construction of pieces with hand-building through the decoration and finishing with a saggar-firing. Sculpting approaches will include hollowing of a solid structure, as well as construction using coil and slab methods in order to “dress” an empty space. Both instructors will demonstrate on a single piece of their own, while explaining step-by-step the various stages of construction, and assisting each participant in turn.

August 4-17, Potter's Council Explores Bali: Re-Awakening the Senses
Instructors: Hillary Kane , Marcello Massoni, Michela Foppiani
Open to Potter’s Council members only. (Contact Carolyn Dorr for more information: cdorr@ceramics.org).

Through a selective series of visits to Balinese artisans, craft studios, remarkable landscapes, and temples, Gaya CAC will pair its own expertise with all that is indelible and inspiring in Bali. This will be a taster’s menu of events and activities for the potter and non-potter alike such that each participant will have a unique opportunity to “re-awaken” his/her senses in a cultural immersion, and be able to bring all these new sensations and intrigue home to their own studios.

October 6-13, Textures & Textiles: Focus on Surface
Instructors: Hillary Kane 
Course Level: Open to ANY level of experience
Include: all studio materials, firing, instruction, lunches during studio days, and excursions around Bali. Accommodation: can be booked independently, or through Gaya CAC (see our list of recommended hotels)

Experience exploring surface techniques and form...in a culture renowned for exquisitely refined craftsmanship, Bali could not possibly offer more in the way of visual and tactile stimulation for the creative ceramicist. This workshop will endeavor to weave together a set of experiences that will provide enough inspiration for a year, let alone one week! After visiting a wide range of the finest craft experts—from batik dyers, to ikat-weavers, wood-carvers to silver-smiths, and more--participants will develop individual projects in direct response to the vast textural stimuli at hand. Demonstrations will, in particular, focus on an extensive range of surface techniques and their adaptability for hand-built and wheel-thrown projects alike.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT gayacac@gayaceramic.com      or        grace@gayaceramic.com