Enter the Atmosphere

Students in this course will be privy to many perspectives on atmospheric firing. Over the year they will meet with artists who use woodfire, salt and soda techniques in their studio practice. Short presentations will set the tone as the artist explains how they integrate their work to this elemental process. Loading techniques, kiln design, wadding tips, clay and glaze recipes will be communicated in our lovely small group format, allowing you time to ask questions and get feedback on your own work.

Our list of presenters includes: John Neely, Tara Wilson, Liz Lurie, Chris Gustin, Lindsey Oesterritter, Ted Neal, Takuro and Hitomi Shibata, Casey Beck, and more! and more!

Trifecta: Be Professional/Critical Care/Be Materialistic

What do you need in your tool box to present yourself professionally? This continuum is curated with some wonderful professionals who can help you develop and refine these tools. Need help taking professional images, a portfolio review, help with an artist or show statement, a slide lecture? This class will get to meet and hear how 12 professionals in the field present themselves as ceramic artists, what they think is important, and what has worked for them.

Our list of presenters includes: Naomi Clement, Deb Schwartzkopf, Ben Carter, Carole Epp, and Latasha Greene!

Critical Care

Critique is feedback, it helps you see what you are making with the eyes and experience of others. This continuum class will focus on critique methods, and get the eyes of twelve different professionals on your work. Good critique helps you clarify your ideas, and develop new ones. I don’t know of any other program like this where you will have access in a small group to get time with such fabulous artists.

Our list of presenters includes: Sam Harvey, Lisa Orr, Carole Epp, Jen Allen, Pete Beseacker!

Sculpture Garden

Sculpture has different concerns, restrictions and freedoms that are unique to this vast discipline. But what are they? How do you think about presentation, installation, transportation? How do you talk about yourself as a sculptor, how do you build relationships with galleries, or museums? What is the role of tradition in ceramic sculpture? In this continuum group, twelve different ceramic sculptors will be presenting their work and talking with you about yours. Classes will focus on answering the above questions and bring forth the personal experienced views of the presenters.

Our list of presenters includes: Kevin Snipes, Carly Slade, George Rodriguez, Kelsie Rudolph, Brooke D’Onofrio, Chanakarn “Punch” Semachai, Shiyuan Xu, and more!

I Have a History

I know history is important, but it is easy to overlook in this day and age of Instagram algorithms. Knowing ceramic history, references, movements, approaches, adds tremendously to your artistic toolbox and ignites your creativity. This class will be a rare and wonderful opportunity to see and hear a lot of all that has come before from many different perspectives. Each presentation will lead to questions and discussion, and by the end of the year this group will have deeper roots and a wellspring of conceptual connections to our past.

Our list of presenters includes: Mark Shapiro, Lisa Orr, Margaret Bohls, and more!

Be Materialistic

At each NCECA one of the conference favorites is the Glaze Doctor Panel, where participants bring in defects and challenges and experts troubleshoot them live. Materials can be a means to an end, but they can also be conceptual or process based inspiration. If you are interested in sourcing your own materials, developing your own glaze or clay palate this is the continuum for you. Experts will present on topics like triaxial blends, testing local materials, material substitution, glaze reformulation, etc. By the end of year students will have a more interactive relationship with clay and glazes.

Our list of presenters includes: Hamish Jackson and Gwendolyn Yoppolo!