Vince Pitelka on mon 26 apr 99
If there is anyone out there who requested a summer workshop brochure and
didn't get one, please email me and I will have one sent to you right away.
It seems that a few of the requests dissappeared into the ether. Everyone
else please look over the following schedule, and let me know if you want a
brochure. Some of these are filling quickly. Email me any questions or
comments.
- Vince
MAY 31 TO JUNE 4
SLIPS AND SURFACE, SLABS AND TURNING - Stephen Robison and Kathleen Guss.
"In this workshop we will focus on combinations of thrown and handbuilt
forms, using slips to create imagery on and in the surface of these forms.
The workshop will begin with a slide lecture on the contemporary use of
thrown and altered forms and combinations of handbuilt and thrown pieces.
Another slide lecture will discuss the historical and contemporary use of
terra sigillata, engobes,
and other types of slip. We will demonstrate different applications of
slips and discuss their various qualities." Basic throwing and/or
handbuilding experience recommended.
STEPHEN ROBISON and KATHLEEN GUSS use four eyes, four hands, two heads and
two hearts in their collaborative work. Their main focus is to work with
the utility of ceramics, using form, surface, composition and color to
communicate using rich visual language, more than just the functional
aspects of a piece. Much of their work is fired in soda, salt, or wood.
They feel that the touch of the flame, ash, or sodium adds not only depth,
but an exciting sense of spontaneity and unpredictability to the work.
Presently they are the artists-in-residence in clay at
the Appalachian Center for Crafts. Robison is also Instructor in charge of
Ceramics at Belmont University in Nashville.
ANCIENT CLAY - Vince Pitelka. The techniques and aesthetics of ancient and
tribal clay have become major areas of interest in contemporary ceramics.
In this workshop, beginning through advanced clay workers will explore a
wide range of materials and techniques, including pinch and coil
construction, burnishing, terra sigillata, surface relief decoration,
polychrome slip painting, and the bonfire process. Slide shows will survey
the extraordinary aesthetic and technical range
of ancient and tribal ceramics from around the world. Participants are
encouraged to make work expressing individual ideas/interests and to develop
a personal mythology in clay. All skill levels.
VINCE PITELKA is currently Assistant Professor of Clay and Head of the Clay
Program at the Appalachian Center for Crafts. He holds an MFA from the
University of Massachusetts - Amherst, where his interest in ancient and
tribal clay first inspired this unique workshop. Vince has exhibited his
inlaid colored clay sculpture and vessels nationwide and is the recipient of
a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship.
JUNE 7 TO JUNE 11
EARTHENWARE: HISTORICAL CONTEXT - CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE - Walter Ostrom.
Working within the earthenware tradition, this course will focus on issues
involving ornamentation and decoration relative to functional and
non-functional ceramics. Although some wheel-throwing techniques will be
demonstrated, we will emphasize slip, polychrome glaze, and maiolica
technology. Demonstrations and slide lectures will be offered and participants
encouraged to explore. Some previous clay experience recommended.
WALTER OSTROM was educated in Europe and North America and then moved to
Canada in 1969, where he began teaching at the Nova Scotia College of Art
and Design. He is known as a committed teacher and a major figure in the
revival of functional earthenware. He has participated in over 100
exhibitions and delivered even more visiting artist presentations.
RAKU - Karl Borgeson. We will explore handbuilding and thrown/altered forms
using commercial glazes and shop glazes. Several alternative post-fire
techniques including sandblasting and gold-leafing will be demonstrated.
Basic skills are recommended.
KARL BORGESON is widely known for his wheel-thrown/altered forms based on
function, but not always functional. His work has been shown extensively
throughout the U.S., and can be found in many major collections. His
current work is largely raku-fired, but he also works with reduction
stoneware and salt firing. Karl holds an MFA from the University of
Minnesota and has been Professor of Ceramics at the University of Wisconsin
- Whitewater since 1970.
JUNE 21-25
FUNKY, FUNCTIONAL, AND ANTI-TRADITIONAL FURNITURE - Laney Oxman. (Don't
have specific description yet) This workshop follows the national
conference of the Furniture Society of America (national organizations of
makers of handmade furniture) at the Craft Center, and will involve
furniture embellished with ceramic tile and found objects.
LANEY OXMAN has been working with clay for over 20 years, creating anything
and everything, from functional to fantasy. Laney really believes anything
can be made with clay. Her main process utilizes whiteware with up to six
firings per piece. Her work is included in the White House Collection of
American Crafts, the Corning Museum, and the Virginia Museum.
JUNE 28 TO JULY 2
DOMESTIC POTTERY - Frank and Polly Ann Martin. This workshop will focus on
making handmade domestic pottery. Two approaches will be explored -
wheel-thrown forms and the assembly of altered parts. While concentrating
on making domestic ware for use, pots produced will exhibit imagination and
character. Throughout the workshop, slide presentations will augment
demonstrations and discussion of techniques. The workshop will provide
participants with the stimulus to develop new explorations in forming,
glazing, and firing. Basic skills recommended.
FRANK and POLLY ANN MARTIN are Co-Directors of the Ceramics Department at
the 92nd Street YM-YWYA School of the Arts in New York City. They have been
working together for the past 14 years and are currently sharing their lives
and maintaining their ceramics studio in Warwick, New York. They both
received their BFA degree from Kansas City Art Institute and their MFA
Degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art. They have team-taught for 9 years at
various schools, craft centers and universities, and have led workshops and
seminars throughout New England. Frank and Polly Ann have exhibited
extensively. Their work has appeared in many articles and books and can be
found in major museums and private collections.
UNDERGLAZE/WAX INLAY DECORATING TECHNIQUES - Rimas Visgirda. In this
workshop participants will learn hands-on methods for pattern development,
narrative imagery, and symbolism using underglazes on earthenware, with wax
resist and wax inlay techniques for achieving a black outline. Also covered
will be multi-fire techniques using underglaze pencil shading to give depth
and enhance texture. There will be discussions of techniques applicable to
resources within your own studio (i.e. glazes, engobes, maiolica, low-temp,
midrange and high-fire). Discussion of multi-fire processes as well as
handbuilding and throwing demonstrations, and also firing pieces and
critiques of finished work. Previous experience recommended.
RIMAS VISGIRDA was born in Kaunas, Lithuania and pursued his education in
the U.S., receiving a B.A. (physics), an M.A. (art) from California State
University - Sacramento, and an MFA in ceramics from Washington State
University. Visgirda has exhibited and conducted workshops nationally and
internationally. His work appears in numerous collections throughout the world.
JULY 5 TO JULY 9
POTS: PORCELAIN POSSIBILITIES - Susan Filley. Susan Filley works with
porcelain making functional pots that are both decorative and sculptural.
This course, based on the wheel, is designed to allow each individual a
chance to use a variety of techniques to combine functional forms with
sculptural details. Susan will demonstrate her unique decoration techniques
using porcelain slip. Basic throwing skills required.
SUSAN FILLEY is a professional potter living in Charleston, SC. Her elegant
porcelain forms are decorated with colored slips and rich porcelain glazes.
She combines sculptural elements and alters some of her forms to create
uniquely animated pots. She has taught across the country and her work has
been exhibited internationally.
JULY 5 TO JULY 16
CRUST, FLASH, AND ASH - Dan Anderson and Robert Archambeau. The focus of
this two-week workshop will be the firing of a 200-cubic-foot wood kiln.
Participants will need to bring 10 to 20 bisque-fired pieces. "On Monday
and Tuesday we will work with you to fill the rest of the kiln. We will
load on Wednesday and start the fire. The firing will be completed on
Saturday night. On Sunday through Thursday we will present slide lectures
on wood kilns and wood-fired ceramics, and demonstrations on throwing and
handbuilding. On Thursday we will unload our ware, and cleanup and
discussions on firing will conclude the workshop on Friday. Previous
throwing and/or handbuilding experience required.
DAN ANDERSON received his B.S. degree in Art Education from University of
Wisconsin - River Falls, and his MFA from Cranbrook Academy. A noted
educator, he has headed the well-known ceramics program at Southern Illinois
University at Edwardsville since 1970. A frequent workshop presenter,
Anderson has lectured and demonstrated at over 60 venues over the past two
decades. he is a multiple award recipient, received an NEA artist
fellowship, and eleven Illinois Arts Council grants (including three
fellowships).
ROBERT ARCHAMBEAU received his BFA in studio arts from Bowling Green State
University in Ohio, and his MFA from Alfred University in New York. A noted
educator, he taught at the Rhode Island School of Design for four years and
at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg for 23 years. He retired from
teaching, and has been a studio artist in Bisset, Manitoba since 1991. A
strong advocate for wood fired pottery, his crockery is some of the finest
in North america. Bob is represented in Canada by the Prime Gallery in
Toronto Ontario. His work is found in numerous public and private collections.
Email me with your snail-mail address to receive a brochure.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
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