Workshops

Workshops. I make sure to attend at least one workshop every year. I’m a big fan of that environment. People coming together, working towards a common goal of growth, working my ass off, and learning from other people who think like I do.

Sheridan is a short jump for me to head up to Helena, MT to the Archie Bray Center. If you don’t know that organization you have to check it out. Lots of incredible history especially for this part of the country. http://archiebray.org/ In the inspiration post I’m going to post here soon: there is a free video you can look up that talks about Volkous and Autio at the Bray, and Josh DeWeese who was a director for a while talks about the history either on his ceramic arts daily video or somewhere. I have been going to the Archie Bray since 2015 for workshops and have had some incredible experiences. Here is a list:

2020:Making and Seeing Bandana Pottery

2019: Chris Staley, Linda Christianson, Simon Levin

Glazing. Pete Pinnell 

2017: Fundamental Questions of Utilitarian Pots Michael Connelly and Alleghany Meadows.        

2016: Josh Dewitt 

2015: Mark Hewitt

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention going to Red Lodge Clay Center for a two day workshop with Suze Lindsay and Mike Helke. Red Lodge is only a couple hours from where I’m at, and is where I get all of my glaze materials. their website is also something I look at constantly to read artist statments and look at good pots. If you don’t know that organization that is another great one to look up. www.redlodgeclaycenter.com

I will make my way to Anderson Ranch and Penland in the future, but with two little guys trips like that can be tough. I volunteered this year to help out at Arrowmont in Sept. so I’m excited about that but we’ll see if Covid is still hanging around or flares up again at that time. In the future when my little guys (a 4 year old and 1.5 year old) are grown a little bit I can hopefully apply to short term residencies nationwide and internationally.

Another great resource is the Ceramics Field Guide. They just recently started an instagram, but they have some incredible insights, and this link will bring you to workshop etiquette. It can be a bit daunting to go to one of these your first time so this has some good insights of what to expect. http://ceramicsfieldguide.org/chapter-2/workshops/