MINDFUL PINCH POTS
Susan McHenry / KNC Barn
Tue 6/18-6/25
5-8pm / Two Days
$120 / Members: $100
Engage your sense of awareness and presence as you learn the art of forming pinch pots, one of the oldest methods of shaping clay. Using wild clay sourced from Northern Michigan, participants will make two vessels—one that will be pit fired to take home and one that will be returned to the earth at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. After making the vessels, we’ll walk the trails, where each participant will find a special spot to leave their offerings. Subject to weather and time, they will disintegrate, becoming a part of the land and life cycle of the soil. Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes. No prior clay experience or special tools are required.
NATURE SKETCHING IN CLAY
Anna Ill / KNC Barn
Tue 7/9-7/16 5-8pm
5-8pm / Two Days
$120 / Members: $100
Wet clay invites impressions and the walking trails at the Kalamazoo Nature Center are full of inspiring imagery. Using drawing tools and found objects, we will create compositions from the Nature Center grounds on small ceramic tiles. Each student will have access to several tiles on which to create “clay sketches”. On day one, we will walk the trails, find inspiration, and make several clay sketches. Tiles will be fired and ready for completion with cold finishes on day two. This course will include traditional as well as non-traditional finishing techniques utilizing waxes, polishes, and acrylics. Dress appropriately for this outdoor class. No prior clay experience or special tools are required.
BEGINNING POTTER’S WHEEL
(A) Lindsay Hayosh / Studio 5
Mon 6/10-7/29
6:30 - 9 pm / 8 weeks
Prerequisite: Beginning Ceramics
$275 / Members: $255
This is the ideal introductory class for students interested in the potter’s wheel. Learn to center and transform a ball of clay into a finished pot. Weekly demonstrations include basic forms such as cylinders, cups, bowls, and plates. Studio slips and glazes will be discussed for completing your pottery. Students are responsible for their own pottery tool kits.
BEGINNING POTTER’S WHEEL
(B) Tom Richards / Studio 5
Thu 6/13-8/1 *No class 7/4
1-3:30pm / 7 weeks
Prerequisite: Beginning Ceramics
$250 / Members: $230
This is the ideal introductory class for students interested in the potter’s wheel. Learn to center and transform a ball of clay into a finished pot. Weekly demonstrations include basic forms such as cylinders, cups, bowls, and plates. Studio slips and glazes will be discussed for completing your pottery. Students are responsible for their own pottery tool kits.
HOT CLAY NIGHT
Wyatt Lane and Amy Hudson / Studio 5 & 7
Fri 7/19
6-9pm / One Day
Pair: $150 / Members: Pair:$130
Spend a summer evening in the KIA ceramics studio! Come as a pair and work side-by-side on the potter’s wheel or meet friends after your work week. We’ll fire up the raku kiln, firing pre-made pieces you’ll glaze and take home. It’s the ideal opportunity to have a creative introduction to clay. Pots thrown on the wheel during the workshop will not be fired. All tools and materials supplied, but dress for the mess! Bring an apron and a beverage and be ready to experience something new. Parent and teen pairs are welcomed, but youth must be over the age of 14.
ATMOSPHERIC FIRING
Julie Devers / Studio 5
Tue 6/11-7/30
1-3:30pm / 8 weeks
Prerequisite: Intermediate Ceramics
$295 / Members: $275
Explore a classic approach to firing your work in a high temperature atmospheric kiln. This is a studio-style course with an emphasis on forming, decorating, and glazing pots for atmospheric firings. Students will actively participate in all aspects of the process–not only loading and maintaining the kiln, but in selecting the slips and glazes for the class.
INDEPENDENT CLAY STUDIO
Wyatt Lane / Studio 5
Tue 6/11-7/30
9:30am-12pm / 8 weeks
Prerequisite: Intermediate Ceramics
$295 / Members: $255
This studio class is for the self-directed student with intermediate to advanced ceramics skills. Focus on your individual, creative interest in hand building, throwing, designing, and finishing. Instructor guidance and critiques will be offered.
RAKU & ALTERNATIVE LOW FIRE
Diane Niehof / Studio 5
Wed 6/12-7/31
1-3:30pm / 8 weeks
$295 / Members: $255
Learn to master the various techniques of raku firing. Instruction will focus on the history of raku, safety, and the nuances of the firing process. Experiment with the studio glazes and reduction variations that produce unique and beautiful results. Horsehair, naked raku, saggar, and black ware firings are offered. Hand builders and wheel throwers are welcome.
CREATIVE CONTAINERS IN RED CLAY
Susan McHenry / Studio 7
Thu 6/13-8/1 *No class July 4
6:30-9pm / 7 weeks
Prerequisite: Beginning Ceramics
$250 / Members: $230
Explore new ideas for lidded vessels in this eight-week hand building class using the studio’s low-fire earthenware clay. Utilizing slabs, coils and custom templates, we’ll explore a range of container sizes, styles, and shapes—from jars and butter dishes to larger casseroles. A variety of lid styles and knobs will be demonstrated, as well as ideas for surface decoration and brushwork using the studio’s low-fire color palette of terra sigillata and slip. Bring a sketchbook to class.
INTERMEDIATE POTTER’S WHEEL
Lindsay Hayosh / Studio 5
Tue 6/11-7/30
6:30-9pm / 8 weeks
Prerequisite: Beginning Potter’s Wheel
$275 / Members: $255
Advance your exploration of the wheel while improving your craft. With an introduction to spouts, lids, handles, and altered forms, this intermediate class is a refresher or a continuation in mastering the potter's wheel and all the possibilities in throwing. High fire glazing will be demystified as you finish the pottery that will become part of your home.
BEGINNING CERAMICS
(A) Yve Holtzclaw / Studio 7
Tue 6/11-7/30
6:30-9pm / 8 weeks
$275 / Members: $255
Welcome to the world of clay. Beginning students will be introduced to a variety of clay-forming techniques to complete several unique vessel projects. Pinching, coiling, and slab-building will be demonstrated–just add a personal, creative touch. Finish pieces with glazes for high and low temperature firings.
Beginning students are responsible for purchasing their own pottery tools; estimated cost is $20. Limited open studio hours for ceramics available outside of class.
BEGINNING CERAMICS
(B) Tom Richards / Studio 7
Wed 6/12-7/31
1-3:30pm / 8 weeks
$275 / Members: $255
Welcome to the world of clay. Beginning students will be introduced to a variety of clay-forming techniques to complete several unique vessel projects. Pinching, coiling, and slab-building will be demonstrated–just add a personal, creative touch. Finish pieces with glazes for high and low temperature firings.
Beginning students are responsible for purchasing their own pottery tools; estimated cost is $20. Limited open studio hours for ceramics available outside of class.
BEGINNING CERAMICS
(C) Brian Hirt / Studio 7
Wed 6/12-7/31
6:30 - 9 pm / 8 weeks
$275 / Members: $255
Welcome to the world of clay. Beginning students will be introduced to a variety of clay-forming techniques to complete several unique vessel projects. Pinching, coiling, and slab-building will be demonstrated–just add a personal, creative touch. Finish pieces with glazes for high and low temperature firings.
Beginning students are responsible for purchasing their own pottery tools; estimated cost is $20. Limited open studio hours for ceramics available outside of class.
ANAGAMA
Julie Devers / Studio 5
Thu 6/13-8/1 *No class 7/4
6:30 - 9 pm / 7 weeks
Prerequisite: Intermediate/ Advanced Ceramics
$275 / Members: $255
Achieve ceramic surfaces only possible in the KIA wood kiln. Experience having your pieces glazed with wood ash and kissed by the flame while firing with a community of passionate stokers. The studio portion of this class discusses the loading, the firing, the history and the anticipated results as you produce pots and sculpture specific to our anagama kiln. At the kiln site you will prep the cord wood to fuel the kiln and work shifts, keeping the firing burning for four days. Unloading day reveals pots that will be as unique as the wood fire process. This class requires physical work, stamina, full participation, cooperation and availability to fire in late September.