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Coffee, clay, creativity, and camaraderie
When I walked into Yourist Studio Gallery and told Kay I wanted to learn how to make pottery, she advised me, as a newbie with no experience beyond grade school art, to start with the Saturday morning Coffee and Clay hand building class. I thought "Oh no, 9:30 on Saturday mornings? I'll never be able to do that! I don't even drink coffee." But now, five years later, I never miss a Saturday morning class. It's become my Zen, my creative yoga, my private time to set problems aside, relax, and play with clay.
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Lineke and Nancy extrude clay
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And I'm not alone in this feeling. Many students return to the class again and again because they enjoy the creative spirit, sharing, and exceptional camaraderie that develops among class participants. Under the direction of our outstanding teacher, Nancy Bulkley, we learn how to use the slab roller, the extruder, slump and hump molds, textures, all sorts of tools, and hard and soft slabs to make "plate-o-matics," mugs and cups, bowls, trays, vases, lidded boxes, teapots, candle holders, and more. We even learn how to use the wheel to put feet on our plates and bowls, and for decorating our creations.
The reasons students have for taking this class are as
 | Despina finishes her extruded pot
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varied as the students themselves. For example, Despina is an archaeologist who wants to "learn more about all the things I studied for 15 years." Besides enjoying the coffee, Lineke, a returning student, appreciates the opportunity to expand on the basics with creative ideas of her own. Marilyn loves to buy pottery so she wants to be able to make her own as well. Another returning student, Rob, discovers inspiration in seeing "the path other students take with the same initial starting point." Rob's sister, Sherry, finds the creative atmosphere of the studio to be a real stress reducer.
Oh, and if you want to find out what a "plate-o-matic" is, sign up for the Coffee and Clay class sometime. The next class starts on November 3. Everyone, from the newest student to the experienced potter, can benefit from the lessons they'll learn.
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Potters to know
More work of slave potter comes to light
I wonder where is all my relation
friendship to all - and, every nation
The rhyming couplet above comes from one of the pots made by Dave, a slave who produced pottery from the 1820s to the 1860s on plantations in Edgefield, South Carolina. Dave is thought to have made tens of thousands of large, utilitarian pots of 40 gallons or more for storing food or serving as milk churns.
Unlike most slaves, Dave was able to read and write. He decorated many of his pots with rhyming couplets and other text, making his surviving work very valuable. Although most of Dave's pots have been lost, a recent New York Times article about Dave reports that his works continue to be unearthed, sometimes whole and sometimes in fragments.
To learn more about Dave, see a selection of his pots, and read his rhyming couplets, click here.
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Drying plates: A potter's quick tip from Kay
To dry a plate for bisque firing, put it right-side up on a rack and cover the rim with plastic. This will allow air to get to the bottom of the plate so it dries evenly and does not crack. Take the plastic off the rim when the center of the plate changes color.
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What is fettling?
Q: I have a tool called a fettling knife, but what does fettling mean? Have I been fettling without realizing it?
A: Could be. The McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Science and Technology defines a fettling knife as "A sharp instrument with a flexible blade tapering to a point; used in ceramics for carving of clay models, sgraffito, removing mold marks, and miscellaneous other purposes." According to Wiktionary, to fettle, when used with respect to ceramics, means "to remove mold marks from (a cast piece)." And of course, when you are feeling especially good, you are said to be in "fine fettle."
If you have any burning questions about the mysteries of pottery, send them to us. We'll answer them here.
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Last call until Spring for clay orders
This is it! If you want to get your hands on some of our popular new clay bodies, including Tom Coleman Porcelain, Russian River, Jamaica, paper clay, and Tecate Gold Sculpture clay, order now before the winter freeze sets in. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until next Spring, when clay shipments begin again.
Call the studio with your order by October 15.
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Cone 10 firing scheduled for October 18
A cone 10 reduction firing is planned for Thursday, October 18. Wares for the firing will be loaded on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 16-17, so get your cone 10 glazing done now.
Community studio members and advanced students are encouraged to sign up for a shift firing the gas kiln on October 18. You will be initiated into the mysteries of gas kilns and reduction firing. And the kiln gods will bless you generously. Please let Kay know if you can lend a hand. Email Kay or call her at 734.662.4914
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Studio Holiday Sale Coming Up
Mark your calendar and make plans now to come to the Yourist Community Studio Holiday Sale on December 7-9, 2012.
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Studio calendar
First Sunday VideoSunday, October 7, 2012, at 4:00 pm.
Paul Soldner: Playing With Fire. Among his many accomplishments in ceramics, Soldner is recognized as the father of "American Raku." Click here to learn more about Soldner and his work.
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Firings
Thursday, October 18
^10 reduction firing. Wares will be loaded on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 16-17. Volunteers
are needed! For details, see the Potters' pipeline in this newsletter.
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| Fall classes
Enrollment is open for the second series of Fall classes that begin in November.
Register now.
Beginning/Cont. Wheel Throwing
Nov. 1-Dec. 13
Thursdays, 12:30 to 2:30 pm. Instructor: Inge Merlin
Thursdays, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Instructor: Nancy Bulkley
Nov. 5-Dec. 10
Mondays, 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Instructor: Kevan Wilson
Coffee & Clay - Hand Building Techniques
Nov. 3-Dec. 15
Saturdays, 9:30 to 11:30 am. Instructor: Nancy Bulkley
Kids Clay Class
Nov. 5-Dec. 3
Mondays, 4:30-5:30 am. Instructor: Nancy Bulkley |
Yourist Studio Gallery
Inspiring classes and workshops for new and experienced students
Bright, modern, fully equipped community studio workspace Comprehensive selection of pottery tools for sale Gallery exhibiting the works of celebrated artists
1133 Broadway Ann Arbor, MI 734.662.4914 youristpottery.com |
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