Ceramic Sculpture: Expressive Vessels, Forms, and Environments

A novel approach to working with clay and ceramics beyond classic pottery. This is a ceramic sculpture course for the unrealized or developing artist, homeowner, or design aficionado looking to enhance indoor or outdoor spaces with one’s own ceramic installations or art, or anyone striving for an ideal in sculptural expression through one-of-a-kind vessels and sculpture.
Throughout this workshop, techniques for building with clay, and thematic analysis of decoration, will be explored, drawing inspiration from deCordova’s concurrent exhibition All the Marvelous Surfaces.

Workshop includes:

Three weekly hours of demonstration and instruction in developing ceramic sculpture techniques and meeting technical challenges from 10 am–1 pm.
Four weekly hours of optional open studio time for participants to focus on building their projects and receiving additional support from the instructor from 1–5 pm.
Individual guidance with personally-designed projects.
Introduction to new spring art installations in deCordova’s 30-acre Sculpture Park and indoor galleries for inspiration.
Discussion of relevant art and ceramics history and concepts.
Related presentations on ceramic art and spatial design, color, and painterly techniques in ceramics, and alternative approaches and concepts to ceramics and ceramic “art” in the environment.
Discussion of the siting and context for outdoor ceramic sculpture.

Tools for building your work are provided. Participants are invited to bring their own hand tools as desired.
Firing fees and material costs are calculated by volume and will be charged at the end of each session. Open studio time is included in the price of the workshop (no discount for those attending only instructional hours).
Workshops are offered consecutively during the year and summer for those engaged in longer-term projects.
All levels welcome, no ceramic experience necessary.
$375 for Members, $435 for Not-Yet-Members (plus firing and materials fee based on usage)
Cancellation Policy: A $50 non-refundable registration fee is included, in the event that you decide not to take the class before it begins. We are not able to issue refunds for workshops missed by the student once the class has started.