POTTERY/CLAY WORKSHOPS AT THE MUSEUM OF ONTARIO ARCHAELOLOGY
Clayworx is proud to partner with the Museum of Ontario Archaelogy (MOA) to provide a series of exciting new workshops inspired by nature, community connections, and history.
For workshops that state "Register Below", click that link to go to registration listings at the bottom of this webpage for more details such as dates/times and to register. For workshops that state "Register at MOA", click that link to go to the MOA registration page for dates/times and to register).
Pit Firing 101 (June) - Join us after the Harvest Festival (June 14th) - your workshop registration includes admission to the festival (10am - 2pm) - to learn about this early method of firing pots. A perfect activity for the Father's Day weekend! Select a pre-made, unglazed pottery vessel and learn how to apply colourants and combustible materials to add designs or interest to your pot. Once you've added your materials around your pot - place it into the pit! Once all pots have been added, we'll start the fire! Return the following morning (June 15th) to retrieve your pot from the ashes. We will discuss and give you materials to clean and polish your pit-fired pot. (Register Below)
Hand Built Leaf Trays (June 25)- Learn some basics of hand building while making a decorative and functional piece of pottery. Bring a leaf from your garden (large, but can fit within the bounds of a 8.5x11 sheet of paper) or use one provided. Cut out your leaf from a slab of clay and form and decorate it under the guidance of one of our artist-instructors. Add colour, texture, and maybe even a little hand sculpted insect sitting atop the leaf to create your truly one of a kind serving dish. (Register Below)
Parent & Child Toad Abodes (August 16) - In this workshop, a parent (grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc.) and child to work together to make and decorate a toad house for the garden. The workshop begins with a short guided nature walk for inspiration! The goal of this workshop is for each pair to learn basic hand building techniques while working cooperatively on a single project. Mold and sculpt clay to make additions and decorative elements and finally use a palette of clay-based "paints" to bring colour to your unique toad abodes! (Register at MOA - coming soon)
Set of 4 Nature-Themed Coasters (August 20) - In this workshop participants will get an introduction to surface decoration techniques on clay! Starting with 4 unfired red clay coaster "blanks", participants will use paintable (and mixable) glazes, various carving tools, and paper resists to generate nature themes on each of their coasters. Think flowers, trees, mountain ranges, sunsets...if you like more abstract designs, that's okay too! (Register Below)
Pit Firing 102 (August) - In this multi-day workshop you will learn how to make a pot suitable for pit firing starting from wet clay using both pinch pot and coil techniques (August 13th). Clayworx will do an initial firing of these pots to the bisque stage. Your bisque pots are then brought back to MOA for the second part of the workshop in which participants apply colourants and combustible materials to add designs or interest to their pots. Once you've added your materials around your pot - place it into the pit! Once all pots have been added, we'll start the fire (August 23rd)! We all then return the following morning to retrieve our pots from the ashes (August 24th). We will discuss and give you materials to clean and polish your pit-fired pot. (Register Below)
Seniors Afternoon Nature Walk & Hand Built Trays (September 27) - The workshop begins with a short guided nature walk for inspiration! Then in a relaxing atmosphere, participants will learn some of the basics of hand building while making lovely nature inspired plates or trays. Starting with a slab of rolled out clay participants will shape their trays. Then they will use the various tools and materials provided to add texture or design elements to their pieces (maybe even using items picked up on the nature walk such as fallen seed pods, etc.) Finally participants can use a palette of clay "paints" to add desired colour to their one of a kind pieces. (Register at MOA - coming soon)
