Stephani Stephenson on mon 16 oct 06
Chris
I just finished teaching a five day workshop today...
I tried a series of 5 day workshops this year, on different topics, as
well as a 2 day workshop.
I have done 1 and 2 day workshops in the past, but wanted to try the
longer format .
I like Paul's comment about stepping back a bit during the longer
workshop.
not only for work time but , hmmm I noticed quite lively exchange of
ideas and even socializing among the participants!!!! (smile)
actually I consciously tried to step back... plus, it gave me time to
get the next demo set up, grabba cuppa, and even do some listening and
observing!
The five day is a long haul but actually, it goes by fast. I like it
because participants have time to get something accomplished, to
engage in hands on work, processes, and work with materials at an
accelerated pace , yes, but with time for thought, refining, , etc.
etc.
for example in this workshop not only was there an intro and an
overview but everyone sculpted tile models from modeling clay (and
had enough time to develop very nice designs and make very well
executed relief tile models). They also made molds, pressed tile from
those molds, extruded tile, learned about glazes and glazing, as well
as other aspects of business, design , project management, history and
ideas. We covered a lot of ground, in otherwords, and we also had some
nice lunches!
In the architectural Ceramics workshop I had a small group and a large
project. It was really a work project and for awhile I was afraid the
work was driving us a bit too much. but there were various processes
involved and I , as well as the participants were quite proud of how
much we accomplished at the end of the workshop. Though they did ask
for a raise on day 4 :)
I think the folks who attend the 5 day workshops are pretty intent,
even if in a laid back or 'on vacation' mode, , they are pretty
committed to learn something, and are choosing to attend because they
want to progress in their own work. So I trey to give them their money
and time's worth. I have fun , but I take the responsibility seriously!
They have a lot to offer and share as well. I have been so impressed
by the caliber of people who have come to the 5 day workshops. It is a
pretty good commitment of time and money, compared to a short workshop.
Also I really enjoy getting to know the folks a bit more individually
in the longer format.
2 day workshops are intense. I feel like I am going in fast motion. I
like to combine a hands on component even in the 2 day, but it seems
very compressed and accelerated. I think that the 2 day gives
participants a taste, a glimpse. The five day, though it isn't long by
many standards, gives you enough time to get in depth , and also follow
a somewhat more natural work pace and division of tasks/processes.
it is running the mile instead of the 100 yard dash.
At the end of the session today I asked participants what they thought
of 5 days,( as I wondered if they thought it too long or just right,
etc. )
They seemed to concur that it couldn't be done in less than 4 days, but
that 4 days could possibly work .
most of this group flew in , so they were also paying lodging costs as
well as workshop fee.
me?
I am going to sleep quite soundly tonight and may even sleep in til 7
or even 7:30 tomorrow!
whether it is 5 day or 2 day I am altogether exhilarated, refreshed
and wrung out like a sponge at the end of the workshop! the last car
heads down the road hopefully a few minutes BEFORE the last
intelligible sentences leave my mouth,
( right now I can barely make
goo goo, burble sounds.) but I have to say I really have enjoyed
getting to know the people who have attended workshops here this year.
I appreciate the fact they chose to attend . I enjoy their enthusiasm
and I enjoy seeing them make friends, interact and share experiences
techniques and ideas
In a way , I think my prep time is as much for the 2 day as it is the 5
day. Or maybe it just seems that way.
goo goo, burble, phhhrew...tile?
Stephani Stephenson
steph@revivaltileworks.com
http://www.revivaltileworks.com
Chris Campbell on mon 16 oct 06
Hi all -
I currently teach week-end workshops.
I am being asked to consider a 5 day one.
Many who teach week longer ones
have said they are easier.
What are the pros and cons?
Thanks in advance
Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
Chris Campbell Pottery LLC
9417 Koupela Drive
Raleigh NC 27615-2233
Fine Colored Porcelain since 1989
1-800-652-1008
Fax : 919-676-2062
website: www.ccpottery.com
wholesale : www.wholesalecrafts.com
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH ...
See the movie and pass the word on.
Your grandchildren will thank you.
Paul Lewing on mon 16 oct 06
On Oct 16, 2006, at 9:22 AM, Chris Campbell wrote:
I currently teach week-end workshops.
I am being asked to consider a 5 day one.
Many who teach week longer ones
have said they are easier.
What are the pros and cons?
Chris, they are quite different. I like both, but for different
reasons.
In a two day workshop you need to be really organized and keep to a
schedule if you want to get across all the information you have to
present. They're a lot more intense and you see a lot more of the
"Aha!" moments- or at least they're more dramatic. It's easier to
have a routine for a two-day workshop after you've done it a few
times. But it's really difficult to do any kind of hands-on thing in
two days.
In a week-long one you have time to get to know people better and
tailor your teaching to what they need. You can go with the flow a
lot more. You can obviously present a lot more material, but the
really big difference is that in a 5-day workshop, you need to
schedule significant amounts of time each day when you're not doing
anything that the students want to watch, so they can do their own
work. I know this is hard for me. It feels like I'm goofing off and
not giving my all, but I've come to realize that not only am I the
main attraction, but I'm the main distraction as well.
Paul Lewing
www.paullewingtile.com
Marcia Selsor on mon 16 oct 06
Dear Chris
I have taught weekend workshops, week long and two weeks.
I did a door surround and some other archtectural pieces at Hood
College in a weekend with a group of grad. students. They were great,
precise and cooperative on a collaborative project..sometimes that is
difficult.
At UH Clear Lake, TX I taught a weeklong workshop that included
several slide lectures to differecnt classes. We had time to make
molds and special tools. We built a door surround, bird baths with
the new molds and tools, corbels with great designs including a skate
boarder.
The longer workshops really let people develop their ideas and designs.
The two week workshop I teach in Italy combines more of an
architectural workshop while living on site and also includes day
trips to some awesome and inspiring sites while in Italy. I have
continued to build up the molds and tools we use for pieces at la
Meridiana. Since 2001 we have been able to expand the repetiore of
work there from simple corbels, columns and capitals, and door
surrounds to a continuation of a serpentine bench, a free standing
arch We'll continue to do more molds, jigs and tool design for
specific ideas. We are going to meet in Florence first. That should
be inspiring. I have borrowed the format of reflecting on a foreign
culture from symposia in Latvia and Uzbekistan. They were one month
long, included travel to inspirational site in the countries such as
the Hill of Crosses in Latvia and the grouping of Mausoleums in Sha i
Zinda in Samarkund in Uzbekistan. These were sponsered by the Soviet
Artists' Union and I am grateful to have been part of those events.
As a teacher, I think finding sources of inspiration is half the
battle. In one of my classes in Italy, the group decided to use
sun dials as an inspiration for the decoration on the large columns
of a garden arch. La Meridiana means Sun Dial in Italian.
Collaborative work involves participants in a different situation
than they are use to. Some find it very uncomfortable. But going
outside the comfort zone oftens brings new ideas and ways of thinking.
Marcia Selsor
http://marciaselsor.com
On Oct 16, 2006, at 11:22 AM, Chris Campbell wrote:
> Hi all -
>
> I currently teach week-end workshops.
> I am being asked to consider a 5 day one.
>
> Many who teach week longer ones
> have said they are easier.
>
> What are the pros and cons?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
>
> Chris Campbell Pottery LLC
> 9417 Koupela Drive
> Raleigh NC 27615-2233
>
> Fine Colored Porcelain since 1989
>
> 1-800-652-1008
> Fax : 919-676-2062
> website: www.ccpottery.com
> wholesale : www.wholesalecrafts.com
>
> AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH ...
> See the movie and pass the word on.
> Your grandchildren will thank you.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> ________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
Marcia Selsor
http://marciaselsor.com
Vince Pitelka on mon 16 oct 06
Chris Campbell wrote:
"I currently teach week-end workshops. I am being asked to consider a 5 day
one. Many who teach week longer ones have said they are easier. What are the
pros and cons?"
Chris -
This is timely, because I am down in Missouri City, Texas right now teaching
two three-day handbuilding workshops, wishing they were five-day workshops.
We're having a great time, but if you try to schedule a decent amount of
hands-on work it is very hard to cover everything. When I do workshops, a
two-day workshop is demo only. A three-day workshop has a little hands-on
work( but rarely enough). In a five-day workshop you actually get to cover
everything you intended to do, and the participants have a lot more time for
hands-on work.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
Overall's on tue 17 oct 06
See you tomorrow Vince!
I'll be in your Wed,Thur,Fri workshop wishing it were
five days. I need all the instruction I can get.
Kim in Houston
--- Vince Pitelka wrote:
> Chris Campbell wrote:
> "I currently teach week-end workshops. I am being
> asked to consider a 5 day
> one. Many who teach week longer ones have said they
> are easier. What are the
> pros and cons?"
>
> Chris -
> This is timely, because I am down in Missouri City,
> Texas right now teaching
> two three-day handbuilding workshops, wishing they
> were five-day workshops.
> We're having a great time, but if you try to
> schedule a decent amount of
> hands-on work it is very hard to cover everything.
> When I do workshops, a
> two-day workshop is demo only. A three-day workshop
> has a little hands-on
> work( but rarely enough). In a five-day workshop
> you actually get to cover
> everything you intended to do, and the participants
> have a lot more time for
> hands-on work.
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee
> Technological University
> Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
> vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
> http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
> http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
>
>
______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change
> your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be
> reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
Kim Overall
http://www.houstonpotters.com
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