Large Scale Hand Building Course

Embrace the tactile nature of ceramics in this hand building course in Los Angeles. In this multi-session workshop, you will learn large-scale hand-building and focus on tuning the relationship between your hands, hearts, minds, and material. In this workshop, we will explore fundamental hand building techniques to create large form sculptural pieces, both functional and abstract. You are welcome to build as many pieces as you’d like throughout the duration of the workshop. You will also receive clay to take home with you to practice with in between the sessions. This class aims to strengthen your ability to listen and feel through clay. We will develop our capability to hear what the material is telling us and allow it to lead us, rather than imposing our own expectations onto it.Our hands are our receptors to feel through this world. They signal to our minds and hearts how to interact with the landscapes that surround us. When connecting and attuning to our sensorial touch, the information that we gather through our fingertips can be one of our greatest sources of insight.Clay is one of Earth’s most malleable materials. It holds memories and takes the impression of that which comes into contact with it. Moving through the elements - earth, wind, fire and air, clay becomes highly chaotic and unpredictable. It is both incredibly mutable and extremely delicate at the same time, teaching those that choose to work with that the path of least resistance is to let go.Through its shape shifting nature, clay allows for us to channel emotions and allow for them to take complex forms that at times transcend the limits of language. In a time of insufferable grief, ceramics is a process that can ground us and give form to emotions too complex for words. In certain states, ceramics has the ability to soothe our nervous system, allows us to connect to ourselves, one another and the world around us.This is ann opportunity to explore ceramics on a deeper level. Take home beautiful handmade pieces and a new perspective of this tactile medium. All pieces will be fired to cone five and will be ready for pick up within three weeks of the commencement of the workshop. We will be working with an unglazed clay body.Please note:

• The workshop space is ADA accessible. A bathroom is available for workshop participants that has a set of 3 stairs leading to it that is not currently ADA accessible. For any specific needs or additional questions on accessibility, please contact the teacher.
• If you are unable to attend the workshop you may transfer your spot to another person, please confirm with the studio when doing so.

All experience levels welcome.
 

• All materials needed to build as many clay pieces as you like
• Your finished fired creations ready to pick up within three weeks of the workshop
• Clay to practice with at home

This class series runs over 4 consecutive days.