On Sunday only, 10% off the purchase of slip trailers for those who attend the demo.
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Kids and clay:
A natural combination
Clay is squishy and sticky and gooey. So, if you're a kid, what's not to like? You can squeeze clay, roll it in a ball, pinch it, pound it flat, and mold it into anything you can imagine.
Our week-long Kids' Clay Mornings class is open for registration. The class will run from Monday through Friday, June 23 to June 27, 2014, from 9:30 to 11:00 am, and is aimed at children ages 7 to 10. We'll spend five mornings introducing kids to the wonders and fun of clay, challenging their creativity, and stoking their imaginations.
With the help of teacher Nancy Bulkley, children will create their own plates and mugs from clay slabs, form a pinched teapot, work on the potter's wheel, and make a small sculpture. They will glaze the pieces that they make during the first two classes, then choose glaze colors for the work made later in the week. |
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Potter's quick tip
Jazzing up the shape of bowls
Q. I've been throwing lots of bowls lately. Can you give me some suggestions for adding a little pizzazz to their shape?
A. Bowls are one of noted potter Bill van Guilder's favorite forms. Here's a helpful video by van Guilder in which he throws seven bowls to show you some simple but effective ways to alter and add interest to the bowl form.
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Seven rims for seven bowls
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As a bonus, van Guilder demonstrates how he uses a pliable metal scraper to move his bowls from the wheel to a ware board without distorting the shape of the bowls.
Readers, if you have a pottery question for Kay, ask away. And if you want to revisit a past tip, you'll find earlier issues in our studio news letter archive on the News and Events page of Yourist Studio Gallery web site.
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How did they do that?
Challenging the clay
Our latest video finds on the Web feature two clay artists whose work pushes the material boundaries of clay: Sam Brennan and Merete Rasmussen. Brennan makes a clay object that behaves amazingly like spring. Rasmussen creates graceful ribbon-like forms that swoop, swirl, and defy both gravity and the observer. Boi-oi-oi-oingSo, a clay object that behaves like a spring? Really? Yes, no kidding. Sam Brennan explains that to achieve his "startling results," he "subverted one of the oldest crafts in existence, the coiling of clay, by automating the process using an extruding machine." Wow!
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Clay spring by Sam Brennan
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Brennan adds that while there is no practical use for this piece, it "demonstrates how, once put under different conditions, we can still cause a material to behave completely unexpectedly." Clay in flightThis innovative set of two synchronized short films shows ceramic artist Merete Rasmussen at work on one of her ribbon-like sculptures, which she builds by coiling clay. Rasmussen, who is influenced by shapes in architecture and nature, explains that she is motivated to make her sculptures by a desire to "create a form that you can't understand until you actually go over and have a look on the other side." |
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Twisted Grey Loop by Merete Rasmussen
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Rasmussen's goal is to challenge not only the material but also her own skills. Visit her web site to see more of her impressive sculptures.
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Studio calendar
Postponed: First Sunday Video
We have postponed the showing of Tom Turner - Two Day Workshop & 34 Pots, which was scheduled for Sunday, May 4, 2014, at 4:00 p.m.
Our First Sunday Video will be on vacation while we scrub down and reorganize the studio. We'll let you know as soon as it returns, when we'll have a brand new video monitor to watch on!
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Tool time class
Working with slips and slip trailers. Special guest Brigitte Lang, who is a well-known artist with a slip trailer, will present this free class on Sunday, May 18, at 4:30 pm. If you'd like to master the skill of decorating with a slip trailer, Brigitte will set you on the "slip trail" to success. On Sunday only, 10% off the purchase of slip trailers for those who attend the demo.
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Next cone 10 firing
The next gas kiln firing is tentatively set for Friday, May 16. We will load the kiln on Thursday, May 15. We need to fill the kiln to fire it, so get your work ready.
To volunteer to help with the firing, call Kay at 734-662-4914. The kiln gods will surely favor you.
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Spread the word
Do you often find yourself sharing this newsletter, or items from it, with your friends in clay--like the links in our April issue to the hypnotic "Dance on the Circle" video or the "12 Tips for Glazing Success?" Well then, do your friends a favor: let them know they can sign up for our free newsletter on the Yourist Studio Gallery home page. That way, they won't miss any of our useful and interesting news, tips, and videos.
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Upcoming classes
Watch our web site for news about our summer classes coming in June. These classes start soon. Sign up now on our web site.
Advanced and Intermediate Spring/Summer Clay
May 7-Jul 9Wednesdays, 6:30-9:00 pm. Instructor: Shannon Nelson Kids Clay Mornings Jun 23-27Monday-Friday, 9:30 to 11:00 am. Instructior: Nancy Bulkley
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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
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