In this workshop each student will design and build a tile tabletop. Shel will guide students through drawing a pattern, calculating for shrinkage, transferring the design to a slab of clay, creating a custom extruder die for tile trim, and bending tiles over a form. He will demonstrate installation and grouting techniques and discuss materials and substraits for setting tile. Discussion will include clay bodies for outdoor use, creating commission work, and the public art process. Students should sketch design ideas for an end table or small coffee table. Tiles and tables do not necessarily need to be limited to squares and rectangles.

A full-time artist for more than 30 years, Shel Neymark has created architectural ceramic pieces for private and public spaces throughout the country. He has built three large outdoor public projects in New Mexico all of which included fountains. He lives and works in Dixon, NM.

Tuition: $185.00
Lab Fee: $30.00

This will be a weekend full of throwing, assembling, discussion and observation of form in functional pottery. We will begin work warming up with basic tableware, cups and bowls, and then move into making parts to assemble into more complex forms. Blair will share his thoughts about creating tension and interest through vertical and horizontal line, and his desire to elicit an emotional response to his pots. His influences range from architecture to farm machinery to historic European salt-fired pots, which have all contributed to his unique voice.

Born and raised in Colorado, Blair has a BA from Adams State College. He worked for 10 years as a ceramic engineer before returning to full-time studio practice in 1988. His work is included in international exhibits and collections, as well as professional journals and books on ceramic art.

Tuition: $185.00
Lab Fee: $30.00

In this workshop participants will be introduced to a wide array of decorating techniques, used for centuries in Japan, which are still exciting and relevant in today’s world. Students will craft their own decorating tools and experiment with techniques including Mishima-style stamp design, inlay (zogan), chatter-mark design (tobi-ganna), paddling (tataki), combing (fushi-bera), line drawing (e-gaki), and brush stroke design (hakeme). Ongoing discussions of aesthetics and presentation will highlight this weekend workshop. Participants should bring several small bisqued pieces for experimentation made from cone 10 stoneware or porcelain.

Betsy Williams trained in a traditional apprenticeship in Karatsu, Japan from 1994 to 1999. With this intensive training as the foundation of her work, she continues to explore new ideas as a full-time artist living and working in rural northern New Mexico. Her work is exhibited nationally, most recently at the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis and the American Craft Council Show in Atlanta.

Tuition: $185.00
Lab Fee: $30.00

Make bigger pieces, add long, thin extensions, build wet clay on dry clay, break off pieces and put them back in another place... these are just a few of the strange ways of working that are possible with paper-pulp added to clay. This hands-on workshop will explore the use of paper pulp and nylon fiber as additives in clay to increase the green strength. This allows us to break rules and achieve forms not possible with regular clay. Participants learn how to make paper clay, and explore traditional and non-traditional clay forming techniques. Judy will also demonstrate cold-surfacing techniques for finished unfired paper-clay sculptures. Participants should come with a spirit of exploration bringing your favorite clay tools and a straight-blade exacto-style knife. Hand-built pieces made in this workshop can be fired in the same manner as regular clay or may be left unfired and finished with cold surfacing.

Judy Nelson-Moore has worked with clay for over 40 years. Her current focus is on fired paper-clay sculptures which have been exhibited locally and regionally.

Tuition: $185.00
Lab Fee: $30.00

Important Information

REFUND AND CANCELLATION POLICY

If a student drops a class up to seven days before the first class meeting, or 2 weeks before a weekend workshop, tuition will be refunded except for a $60.00 (or $20 for children's workshops) non-refundable registration fee. No refunds will be made after this date. No refunds or credit will be given for missed classes. Make-ups may be arranged in a similar class, in the same session, if space permits. We do not give refunds for any studio rental options.