Workshop with Visiting Artist Casey Beck
Immerse Yourself in a Four Day Workshop!
We are so pleased to announce that ceramicist Casey Beck will be joining us for a four day soda firing workshop at our Atmospheric Oribe Firing Center in San Gregorio from October 23rd-26th!
In this immersive workshop, participants will have the opportunity to bring their cone 10 bisqueware to San Gregorio where Casey will walk everyone through his unique soda firing process. During the session, participants will learn about slip and glaze applications, the intricacies of soda firing, as well as on-the-wheel demonstrations by the artist. On our final workshop day, we will celebrate with a BBQ onsite. We hope you can join us!
INFO
Dates: October 23rd-26th
Times: 9am-3pm (with the potential to go a bit longer each day & and 1 hour lunch break)
Costs: Full Workshop: $500
Demo Day ONLY: $100
SCHEDULE
Day 1: Slipping, lining, wadding, and discussing placement in the kiln. Pieces will be loaded into the kiln and we will begin candling and firing in the afternoon and evening.
Day 2: Firing the kiln, adding soda and beginning a slow cooling.
Day 3: Demo Day. Casey will demonstrate a variety of forms, ranging from pitchers, to stemware, plates, and cups. He will discuss how to throw various forms, manipulate them on the wheel and add hand built elements.
Day 4: Kiln unloading, debriefing, discussions, and cleaning.
We offer the opportunity to join us for all four days of the workshop with the demonstration day included OR you can participate in the Demo Day only. Please note that if you sign up for the Demo Day, you will only be joining us on October 25th. We look fowrad to seeing you!
* The FULL workshop includes 1 cubic foot of space in the kiln. Please remember to bring cone 10 bisqued pieces for the workshop.
Please reach out if you are interested in camping accommodations.
Japanese Chawan & Guinomi Workshop
About The Instructor
Yukiko Wantanabe is a ceramic artist and instructor in San Francisco, CA. Growing up in Japan, I have always been fascinated by a sense of genuine, natural beauty that is situated in quietness/serenity. Working with clay gives me that space of peace and a state of “mu (無)” (a quiet emptiness). My work honors the place I reside, brings out the history and beauty of the geology, and creates a way for viewers and users to connect with the environment. I thrive to stop our time to create space for people to experience inner tranquility and transcendence through light, shadow, texture, pigments, and flame.
About The Workshop
Join for a cultural journey into the world of Japanese pottery with this immersive half-day chawan (matcha bowl) and guinomi (sake cup) making workshop, set in the serene surroundings of San Gregorio. This experience offers a unique opportunity to delve into Japanese “Teaism,” which permeates Japanese ways of life. The instructor will demo and address: Shaping techniques (tebineri/hand shaping, kurinuki), function and shape relationships, foot shaping/trimming, and surface/landscape design. During hands-on portion of the workshop, participants will hand build a unique chawan and guinomi to fit to your hands, and bring out a clay landscape that speaks to their artistry.
INCLUDED:
– Home-made Japanese lunch
– Clay materials (including raw clay materials directly from Mino and Shigaraki for texture)
WHAT TO BRING:
Please don’t worry, if you don’t have these tools. We will have extra tools for you to use.
– Trimming tools (e.g., loop tool, wooden/fettling/kitchen knife)
– Shaping tools (e.g., round metal or rubber rib)
– Sponge
*There will be a limited number of imported Japanese pottery tools available for purchase as an option.
LOCATION:
San Gregorio, location to be provided once class is purchased.
In this workshop we will provide Cone 5 clay, however we will not be firing the pieces or transporting your work from our Atmospheric Firing Center. If you would like to request Cone 10 clay, please reach out!