Saturday, May 2 · 1–4:30pm
$90 (work trade options available)
Learn how to make ceramics from clay gathered directly from the land.
In this hands-on, outdoor workshop, we’ll work with wild clay sourced from the property—beginning with a short walk down to the creek, where we’ll dig a beautiful blue-gray clay from a natural vein. From there, we’ll move through the full process of transforming raw earth into a workable ceramic material.
Together, we’ll cover how to identify and locate wild clay in the landscape, as well as practical methods for processing—slaking, screening, and refining clay for use in functional pottery. Participants will have the chance to work directly with both freshly dug as well as processed material, making small experimental pieces that explore the unique qualities of wild clay: its texture, variability, and limits.
Rather than treating those limits as problems to fix, we’ll approach them as collaborators in the making process—allowing the material itself to guide form, surface, and outcome. We’ll also discuss simple testing methods and ways to adjust wild clay bodies to suit different firing temperatures and functional needs.
Throughout the workshop, we’ll touch on broader questions around material sourcing, including the environmental and ethical considerations of harvesting clay locally versus purchasing commercially processed materials.
Participants are encouraged to bring clay from home if they’d like to share or test it.
Firing:
Participants who would like their pieces fired can opt into a $30 firing fee. Finished work will be available for pickup at a later date.
Please note:
This is an outdoor workshop. Accessing the clay site requires stepping down a small embankment and walking through a shallow creek. Please wear appropriate footwear and be prepared to get a little muddy.
Saturday, May 2 · 1–4:30pm
$90 (work trade options available)
Learn how to make ceramics from clay gathered directly from the land.
In this hands-on, outdoor workshop, we’ll work with wild clay sourced from the property—beginning with a short walk down to the creek, where we’ll dig a beautiful blue-gray clay from a natural vein. From there, we’ll move through the full process of transforming raw earth into a workable ceramic material.
Together, we’ll cover how to identify and locate wild clay in the landscape, as well as practical methods for processing—slaking, screening, and refining clay for use in functional pottery. Participants will have the chance to work directly with both freshly dug as well as processed material, making small experimental pieces that explore the unique qualities of wild clay: its texture, variability, and limits.
Rather than treating those limits as problems to fix, we’ll approach them as collaborators in the making process—allowing the material itself to guide form, surface, and outcome. We’ll also discuss simple testing methods and ways to adjust wild clay bodies to suit different firing temperatures and functional needs.
Throughout the workshop, we’ll touch on broader questions around material sourcing, including the environmental and ethical considerations of harvesting clay locally versus purchasing commercially processed materials.
Participants are encouraged to bring clay from home if they’d like to share or test it.
Firing:
Participants who would like their pieces fired can opt into a $30 firing fee. Finished work will be available for pickup at a later date.
Please note:
This is an outdoor workshop. Accessing the clay site requires stepping down a small embankment and walking through a shallow creek. Please wear appropriate footwear and be prepared to get a little muddy.
