2012 Classes
OnDemand classes are now listed in the “By Media” section of our online catalog. Before registering, please be sure to read our General Class Information or, if signing up for an OnDemand class, the OnDemand Class Information.
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Ceramics
Fun with Clay!
with Sidra Kaluszka
June 16
Saturday, 9:30am-12:30pm
$25 per student, all materials included
Ages 10-14
This fun filled ceramic class is designed for kids to come in and get a feel for working with clay! Kids will learn some of the basics of ceramic construction and let their creativity run wild from there. Students will make and design their own platter and try throwing on the wheel!
This morning of creative activity will include a healthy snack and movement break with Sandy Jahmi Burg–her movement exercises use neuroscience and childhood development training in a whole child approach to help keep a child’s brain, body and creativity healthy.
All the clay for this class will be supplied. If parents and children decide to have any of their pieces fired, they will need to pay a $5 firing fee for up to 3 pieces before leaving at the end of the day.
Sidra Kaluszka teaches ceramics and watercolor classes for adults and youth at the Jax, in Blacksburg and offers private lessons. She also tuahgt in our spring AfterSchool Arts session, manages the pottery studio at the Jax and enjoys watching people learn.
Play with Clay!
with Sarah Greene
June 16
Saturday, 9:30am-12:30pm
$25 per student, all materials included
Ages 6-9
Explore the world of clay and have fun experimenting with the creative ways you can play with clay. Enjoy making pinch pots and coil pots and even sculptural works of art!
This morning of creative activity will include a healthy snack and movement break with Sandy Jahmi Burg–her movement exercises use neuroscience and childhood development training in a whole child approach to help keep a child’s brain, body and creativity healthy.
All the clay for this class will be supplied. If parents and children decide to have any of their pieces fired, they will need to pay a $5 firing fee for up to 3 pieces before leaving at the end of the day.
Sarah Greene is a professional photographer who has taught art courses for children for many years. She also teaches Afternoon Arts to 4-8 year-olds every Thursday at the Jax.
Cone 6 Reduction Firing (CER042312)
April 23-27 CLASS IN PROGRESS
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
Jax Member $405/ General Public $500
Deposit $125
Materials Fee: $50-$70
Minimum Enrollment, 3: Maximum Enrollment, 8
Minimum Age: 18
Intermediate to Advanced (must bring 20-30 pieces bisqueware)
Explore the world of reduction firing geared towards introducing the less common, but more efficient, target temperature of cone 6. Firing to cone 6 in reduction as opposed to cone 9-10 temperatures offers many positive possibilities. As we attempt to wean our excessive use of fossil fuels—as consumers and potters alike—firing to cone 6 reduces our carbon footprint and consumes nearly ¼ less fuel than a cone 10 reduction firing. Common cone 10 glazes such as shinos, celadons, and temokus come out great in cone 6 reduction, with very little noticeable difference. Studios that regularly fire to cone 6 in oxidizing electric kilns already contain a large palette to fire in a reduction firing, which yields different and very often exciting results. Adding a cone 6 reduction option actually simplifies the studios glaze palette and clay body needs. Come be a part of this exciting workshop which intends to inch us closer to a slightly less consumptive and more efficient way of firing in reduction to stoneware temperatures.
More Details
This workshop is open to potters, handbuilders, and sculptors alike who are interested in cone 6 reduction or who just want to experience a different palette and atmosphere to fire their work in. Some basic glaze chemistry will be discussed as well as some different approaches and techniques for glaze application. Students should bring 20+ pieces of bisqueware (with an average size of 6”x6”x6”) made from cone 6 appropriate clays. Students are encouraged to test any cone 6 or higher temp glazes, and there will be generous room for test tiles throughout the kiln (test tiles no larger than 2”x2”x2”). We will begin with some glazing approaches and techniques, load and fire the gas kiln and unload and discuss our results and other options.
Ronan Kyle Peterson grew up in Poplar, NC, a small community deep in the mountains of western North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in 1996 received a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Anthropology, with a minor in Folklore. His interest in Folklore led him to John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, where he began taking classes in ceramics and other media. After working for two years with two potters in the area of Asheville, NC, he attended Penland School of Crafts. Initially, he intended to stay for a two month Concentration in Wood and Soda Fired Pottery with MacKenzie Smith, but two months turned into four years. After Concentration, Ronan applied for and was accepted into the Core Student program. During the two year intensive work exchange program, Ronan had the opportunity to study with a number of internationally known artists and craftspeople. Currently, he has a ceramics studio in Chapel Hill, NC, and teaches ceramics classes at Claymakers in Durham, NC, and Pullen Arts Center in Raleigh, NC. Ronan's ceramic objects have shown in local and national exhibitions.
http://ninetoespottery.blogspot.com
The Wonders of Raku (CER060912)
June 9-10
Saturday & Sunday, 9am-5pm
Jax Members $162 / General Public $200
Deposit $50
Materials Fee: $30+
Minimum enrollment, 3: Maximum enrollment, 5
Minimum Age: 18
Once again, Steve will fire up the raku kilns for two days of glazing and firing. Learn a variety of reduction methods, and see first-hand their remarkable array of effects. Students will talk about the forms and shapes best suited for raku and should bring several bisque-fired vessels ready to be glazed—non-functional pieces are recommended as raku is not food safe. Steve will also have a limited number of bisqued vessels on-hand for sale to students, varying from $10-$20 apiece. This course will focus on several methods of glazing and firing raku vessels, but will include some advanced throwing techniques.
More Details
Steve Mitchell produces large raku and wood fired vessels at his mountainside studio located in the Back Creek area of Roanoke County. Steve developed most of his glazes highlighted by use of silver and gold to accent the mostly classic Greek and Asian forms. Steve has won numerous awards for his work including Best Raku Form at the Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference. Steve has developed a new throwing technique for his raku work making the vessels very light weight at the same time massive in scale. Steve is a Board Member of the Blue Ridge Potter's Guild and a member of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. His work has been seen in area galleries as well as the Jacksonville Center for the Arts. His studio is open by appointment.
www.stevemitchellpottery.com
Meditations in Clay (CER090712)
September 7-9
Friday-Sunday, 9am-5pm
Jax Members $243 / General Public $300
Deposit $75
Materials Fee: $20-$40
Minimum Enrollment, 3: Maximum Enrollment, 8
Minimum Age: 16
‘In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few’ -S. Suzuki
Get in touch with your inner artist and express yourself through a meditative exploration of clay. Participants will combine wheel and hand built parts to push the limits of clay and experimenting with molds, altering, colored slips, slip trailing and carved surfaces. Each day will start out with a silent meditation in the Zen tradition, cultivating awareness from our reflection into a more authentic creative experience. Sometimes some of our greatest work can come from experimentation and ‘mistake’s that evolve from it! This is a exciting clay class which will focus on hand building and wheel throwing for all levels.
More Details
Sarah McCarthy is a full time studio potter who lives in Floyd, Virginia. She is a self taught artist who has studied at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Sarah creates functional wheel thrown and hand built pots with attention to surface decoration and subtle Asian influenced glazes. She hopes her pots add to the beauty of the intimate spaces in our daily lives.
www.sarahmccarthypottery.com
Introduction to the Pottery Wheel (OnDemand)
Sidra Kaluszka, Sarah McCarthy or Jessica Wertz
This class is scheduled OnDemand. Please register to get you name on the call-list and we will schedule the class once the minimum enrollment has been reached and in coordination with the students and instructor.
2 days, 9am-5pm
Jax Member $162/ General Public $200
$10 Call List Deposit
Get your hands dirty and your heart centered in this wonderful introduction to the potter’s wheel. Learn how to throw several pounds of clay into beautifully concentric pots. Learn the meanings and methods of various clay terms including: wedging, centering, pulling, coning, compressing, shaping, trimming, glazing and more.
Students will learn to make both the Cylinder and Bowl which are the basis of all wheel-thrown pottery forms. Whether you are familiar with the potter’s wheel or not, this introductory wheel throwing class will give students a strong foundation in throwing techniques.
More Details
If students like some of the products they create in this class they are welcome to organize a kiln firing with Sarah. Such products may be used in future glazing classes, where students are asked to bring their own bisque ware.
Students under the age of 18 MUST have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian before class commences.
Minimum enrollment: 3, Maximum enrollment: 5
Beginner ● Materials Fee: $20 ● Minimum Age: 15
Sidra Kaluszka is a graduate of Floyd County High School, Virginia Tech and most recently, Radford University where she graduated with a double Masters of Fine Art degree in watercolor and ceramics. She is currently the pottery studio manager for the Jax, while she teaches in Christiansburg and Blacksburg, attends crafts shows, has her work in a number of galleries and exhibits, and maintains a studio space at the center.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidrak_studio/
Sarah McCarthy is a full time studio potter who lives in Floyd, Virginia. She is a self taught artist who has studied at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Sarah creates functional wheel-thrown and hand-built pots with attention to surface decoration and subtle Asian influenced glazes. She hopes her pots add to the beauty of the intimate spaces in our daily lives.
www.sarahmccarthypottery.com
Jessica Wertz is a full time studio ceramic artist who graduated from Penn State University with a BFA in Ceramics. She moved to Floyd, VA last year to begin a two year apprenticeship with ceramic artist, Silvie Granatelli. Jess's focus is on functional work that is conceived on the wheel and is occasionally altered with attention to surface decoration. She works predominately with high fire porcelain and uses an array of glossy and matte glazes.
http://jessicawertz.com
An Exploration of Slabwork Pottery (OnDemand)
Jayn Avery
This class is scheduled OnDemand. Please register to get you name on the call-list and we will schedule the class once the minimum enrollment has been reached and in coordination with the students and instructor.
4 days, 3 hrs each day (one week)
Jax Member $124 / General Public $153
$10 Call List Deposit
Explore the fundamentals of slab work hand-built pottery. Rolling clay out into a flat slab provides material for an exciting range of form. From the flexibility of soft canvas to the rigid structure of cardboard and every texture between, this class will encourage exploration as well as provide an introduction to the basic skills used in slab work. Students will design, roll, cut and join slabbed clay into a variety of kitchenware and creative works. From beginners who have never worked with clay to those skilled in wheel-throwing and hand-building—all who want to discover and explore this side of clay’s potential are welcome.
More Details
Minimum enrollment: 3, Maximum enrollment: 8
Beginner to Intermediate ● Materials Fee: $20 ● Minimum Age: Responsible Young Adult
Students under the age of 18 MUST have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian before class commences.
Jayn Avery is a self-taught potter/sculptor/writer living in Floyd County, Virginia. The direction of her life was changed by one introductory class in pottery taken at Cornell University while she was a student working on her MS in environmental education. She founded Blue Heron Pottery in 1975 and her unique functional lace-impressed slabwork has become a Floyd County exemplar. As an advocate of simple living, she bases her technique on the principles of least cost, least equipment, and maximum use of available resources. Her teaching emphasis is on personal creativity and resourcefulness.
www.blueheronpotterystudio.com
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Missing our hardcopy catalogs or know someone who doesn’t get online very often? You can get information about upcoming classes and events at the Jax in Floyd’s own Museletter, a nonprofit, homespun cut-and-paste print publication of poetry, musings, community events and more. The Museletter is mailed monthly and subscriptions are only $15 for a year ($16 if subscribing online through their Facebook Shop). Subscription fees and content submissions should be mailed to CERC Museletter, P.O. Box 81, Floyd, VA 24091. Content submissions and questions can be emailed to museletterfloyd@gmail.com.
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