Traditions and Innovations.
This premier conference features a wide-range of functional ceramic artists. Whether you're interested in Wheel-throwning or handbuilding, traditional or contemporary styles, and simple or complex surfaces -- We've got it covered!

Potters Council, FUNKe Fired Arts and Clay Alliance have been working for over a year to bring you this one-of-a-kind educational event that will have you eager to get back to the studio or classroom.

Learn techniques. Become Inspired.
You'll not want to miss a minute of this conference, which is full of hands-on instruction. Come and experience what others are raving about...

                 Cathlene DeCraene had this to say about the most recent conference:

I just wanted to let you know that I found the workshop (Surface, Form & Substance) this past weekend to be invaluable and inspiring. It seemed every detail, from the hotel choice ( which had extraordinarily comfy beds) to the lunches to the presenters was well thought out. In fact, everything about the workshop seemed imbued with a spirit of generosity and sharing, the likes of which I don't think I've ever experienced before.

Functional... We've got it covered!
Mike Baum, a production potter and Pam Korte, a studio potter will present in tandem comparing and contrasting their two distinctive paths in clay. You will learn how to pull a handle directly off a piece of pottery from Mike, while Pam will teach participants how to handbuild the perfect spout.

The mighty duo of Chris Early and Gil Stengel will contrast the ideas for making just one big pot or hundreds of little pots. Come and experience their individual wheel-throwing techniques and learn how to make a large coil thrown pot.

Steve Howell removes the barrier of making your own molds.  He will share his step-by-step process on how to make light weight one-piece hump molds.  Kelly King, whose work was recently featured ceramic artist in Ceramics Monthly,  will share how to build porcelain vessels using simple slab construction techniques with additive sculptural details. Participants will leave with a hands-on understanding of how she uses china paints.

Discover new shapes in clay with Laura Ross, who will be wheel-throwing forms without bottoms to be altered and re-shaped into baking dishes, teapots and jars. You will learn her technique as you make your own baking dish. Handbuilding with pattern and texture is the focus of Amy Sanders' demonstration.  She will create pieces by pinching, folding and draping thin slabs over molds. She will discuss how pattern, line,  and texture can enhance the form. Participants will have the chance to make simple stamps to use in their own studio.

Don't miss a minute.
Not only does this conference allow you to pick and choose the presenters that interest you the most, you are provided many opportunities to network with others in the clay community. The conference starts with an opening reception at the FUNKe Fired Arts gallery. Where attendees will have a chance to see the artists work close up. Saturday and Sunday will be filled with demonstrations and hands-on learning opportunities. Joe Molinaro will be the keynote presenter on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday, Rookwood Pottery will present Rookwood Reborn.  We have many other optional events planned that you'll not want to miss. View details:  Additional Information.

To read more about the presenters click here: Presenters

 

Laura Ross
Out-of-Round, Discovering New Shapes in Clay
Laura will be wheel-throwing forms without bottoms, which will be altered and re-shaped into lidded baking dishes, teapots and jar forms using handbuilding techniques. She will pull handles on the baker and attach a handle on the lid.  The pieces will be viewed as a whole with each part contributing to the balance and design.  She will feature the making of handbuilt lids to fit these out-of-round forms.  Laura will also address the surface texture and treatment in relation to the form and glazing.

Hands-On:  Participants will construct a small altered baking dish from thrown and slab components.  Each student will first create the walls of the baking dish on the wheel by throwing a bottomless cylinder.  After the thrown component is allowed to dry enough to be handled the student will then reshape the form into the desired shape such as an oval, rectangle, or square before adding a slab bottom.  As time permits students may explore the option of creating a slumped lid for the baker.  Students are encouraged to bring a bucket of their own clay tools, a towel, and be prepared to think "Out of Round" for this workshop.

Additional Information:
Laura Ross has made her living in clay since 1984, exhibiting nationally in juried and invitational shows throughout the country including the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Endless Variations, and Shino Review (NCECA Exhibit, Baltimore Clayworks). She was a presenter at 2007 NCECA in Louisville, Kentucky.  After receiving her Masters in ceramics from the University of Louisville under the esteemed Tom Marsh, Laura began her career in clay with an emphasis on simple yet robust vessel-oriented forms. Her focus has been traditional in spirit yet expressive in personal form which attention to functional ware that has been altered in shape.

Laura lives and works along the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky. "It is here, near the river ,where I am forever inspired and humbled by the power and vastness of nature. The river's rhythms and continuous changing reflect the patterns of my own work-life as a potter. It is a joyful place to be."

Laura teaches at her studio in Louisville and shows her work at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft (KMAC) in Louisville, Kentucky.

For more information, visit: www.laurarossstudioclay.com

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Amy Sanders
Handbuilding with Pattern and Texture
Amy will focus on soft slab construction using a cone 6 stoneware body. As she works through individual pieces, she will consider how stamped patterns can enhance the surface.  Amy will show how to create some pieces by pinching, folding, and draping thin slabs over molds, while others will start with simple paper templates.  Discussion will focus on how pattern, line, texture and proportion inform composition and aesthetic decisions made while creating a pot.  Participants will have the chance to make simple stamps and other texture-making tools. Amy will also be sharing her glaze recipes.

Hands-On: Participants should come prepared with ideas to createclay stamps which will be taken home for bisque firing after the workshop. The two basic styles of stamps to be made are roulette style stamps used to create a continuous line-pattern, and a "texture mat" used to create over all patterns.  Students should bring a sketchbook of ideas and their favorite clay hand tools needed to complete the stamps.

Additional Information:
Amy first discovered clay as an undergraduate student studying biology at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky where she graduated with a BA in art and secondary education.  She and her husband Brian then moved to Charlotte to work for Habitat for Humanity as Americorps volunteers and happily discovered an amazing clay community in North Carolina.  Amy has been teaching throwing and handbuilding classes at Clayworks in Charlotte for 8 years. After completing a 1-1/2 year artist residency at McColl Center for Visual Arts, she moved into her home studio and has been a full-time studio artist for four years. Amy is exhibiting in galleries nationally.  This new mom is continuing to work in her studio, creating her stamped and patterned vessels, while also working on a large-scale public art tile project for the city of Charlotte.
 
For more information, visit: www.theretherepottery.blogspot.com