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Guest Artist adventures and new courses!
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Welcome to our May newsletter.
You might not have noticed but we were acutely aware we missed a newsletter in both March and April. This means we haven't reported on our forum on International Artist Residencies or our Claymation for kids, both which were really wonderful events/classes. Thank you to everyone who attended the forum and here is a podcast you can listen to. And for a little treat, you can see what the kids made in their Claymation course here!

The craziness of March was due to Jane attending NCECA (the National Council of Education for the Ceramic Arts) in Portland, Oregon, USA. This was a wonderful event, attended by over 6500 mad potters and ceramic artists, mostly from the US but a sprinkling of others such as 7 little Australians who were invited to show their work together with seven American ceramic artists in an exhibition called Omnus Terra. You can read curator Shannon Garson's article in Garland here. And also listen to Ben Carter's podcast from the exhibition itself here. (you may remember Ben Carter gave a workshop at Slow Clay a couple of years ago and runs a great podcast series called Tales of a Red Clay Rambler) 

It is with great sadness that we farewelled our good friend and extraordinary ceramic artist Liz Williams on 24 March. Liz was a guest artist at Slow Clay in 2014 and gave generously and informatively, encouraging students and inspiring them with her work and her thoughtful discussions. The workshop cemented her as one of our most loved guest artists. At the beginning she put everyone at their ease saying 'Don't worry - I'm going to tell you everything I know'! From that moment on we were in awe of her skills with clay and her ability to convert poetic ideas into ceramic reality. We are so lucky to inherit her Japanese ceramics collection and we intend to create a memorial to Liz in our studio and will welcome visitors to see the collection. Vale dear Liz Williams, a very special friend and artist.  

Please read on for news of our next guest artist, Andrew Halford, and our enrolment details for forthcoming courses in Term 3. 
 

Guest Artist Workshop:
Andrew Halford


We have been working on getting Andrew Halford to Slow Clay as a guest artist for a few years and the planning is about to pay off with only one week to go! This one-day workshop with one of the most experienced potters in Australia will have you spell-bound. Andrew started potting when he was a kid and worked with some of the great names in ceramics before he was even 20: Shiga Shigeo and Les Blakeborough to name but two. After training in Australia he moved to Japan for five years and worked firstly with Living National Treasure, Shimaoka Tatsuzo in Mashiko, then with Shimada Haruo, on the west coast learning the traditional coil and throw technique for making large traditional storage pots over one metre tall. He established and managed Kinka Pottery in Terrey Hills, north of Sydney for many years and then moved to secluded, water-access bush living in the Hawkesbury River region of NSW. He recently re-located to Tasmania where he is now establishing a new studio. He keeps close connections with Japan and visited there recently for a reunion exhibition and kiln firing by the Shimaoka studio apprentices. His pieces are in important collections including the National Gallery Canberra, Powerhouse, Sydney and many other state art galleries.

In this workshop you will be mesmerised by Halford’s sublime but powerful wheel-throwing techniques and his intricate inlaid surfaces. He sagger-fires in heavy reduction atmosphere to get a natural golden lustre which contrasts with the raw charcoal surfaces of the unglazed clay. His forms are the basis for all that follows: architecturally planned in structure yet softly finished and caressed with slip and his signature inlaid textures and patterns.
Demonstrations will include:
  • a large range of his forms using throwing techniques including throwing off the hump, spheres and large platters
  • turning and slip decoration and decorative inlay of designs. Students will have a chance to work on some inlay designs.

This will be a truly inspirational workshop not just for students but particularly for established potters who crave to see the best and to be inspired! 

Due to demand, we have just opened up three more places so get in quick!  
21 May
10am - 4pm
$195 student/UE/fulltime potter
$235 Normal price Bookings: 
slowclay.com

Disclaimer: We are slightly biased in our appreciation of Andrew Halford as he provided Slow Clay director Jane Sawyer with an apprenticeship training in the 1980's. It might be fair to say, therefore, that Slow Clay Centre would not exist without Andrew!
Book here!

Term 3 Classes

8-week courses open for new enrolments on 1 June, 1pm
Term 2 is now in progress and we will open to the public for Term 3 enrolments on 1 June from 1 pm onwards. Please note we cannot take bookings by phone on that day - just online bookings only. Please diarise the date and we look forward to welcoming you to Slow Clay Centre!

To our current students: you have priority to re-enrol if you wish to continue with us in Term 3. Please re-enrol via the office or by phone before 31 May.  Remember, we love to develop your skills and experiences and we have a strongly developmental pathway. We encourage you to move into an Intermediate level course after you have completed two or three Beginner's level courses. At Intermediate level you will continue to develop awareness of ergonomically sound techniques while working on structured exercises and start to develop your own style and expression.

Term 3 dates: 17 July - 8 September.
$490 Early Bird - $525 Normal Price

 
Book Here

And...



CRAFT VICTORIA
ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER
Saturday 17 June 6.30pm
The event will feature live and silent auctions plus specially crafted interviews and performances. Please consider supporting Craft Victoria by coming along for what is sure to be a great night!  Tickets

THE VICTORIAN CRAFT AWARDS
3 JUNE - 8 JULY
This is the second biennial event facilitated by Craft Victoria in the pursuit of presenting and celebrating excellence in craft and design. The awards exhibition will take place across three venues — Craft Victoria, Collins Place Gallery and Sofitel Melbourne on Collins from 3 June–8 July.  Details
Venco Direct Drive potter's wheels
We choose to work on Venco direct drive wheels at Slow Clay Centre. We are proud they are Australian-made and they are exceptionally smooth, strong, quiet and reliable. They come with a five year warranty on parts and are quick to respond to service needs. Ask us about prices and if you are a student we offer a generous discount!  Enquire
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