Homeschool Intermediate/Advanced Guided Projects Wheel Throwing Pottery 8 Week Course Fall 2024

Ages: kids 14 - 17
Date: Thursdays 10/3 - 11/21
Time: 10am - 12pm
Cost: $180 (This class is made possible at a subsidized rate by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.)
Location: Rumriver Art Center (wheel studio suite 102)
Teacher: Madison Nelmark

Prerequisite:
Has taken the 8 Week Homeschool Wheel Throwing and can comfortably perform throwing basics such as centering clay, trimming, glazing, and making basic shapes such as a cylinder and bowl.

Overview:
This course will focus on assisting homeschool students who wish to advance their wheel throwing skills by working through two guided projects over the 8-week course. The first project will include learning how to use more than 1Ib of clay in order to create larger vessels. Students will learn how to make one cylinder that is at least 4” tall and one bowl that uses at least 1 ½ Ibs of clay.  The second project will be to make a set of three bowls, they will learn how to throw vessels that are the same size and how to make a nesting set. Included in the cost is everything you need while you are in the class: basic pottery tools, buckets, clay and glazes, firing, and discounted open studio opportunities.

Week 1:
Introductions, demonstrate how to wedge clay, and how to weigh clay. Work time to get a feel for working with more than 1Ib on the wheel.

Week 2:
Demonstrate how to pull taller vessels, and how to open them up into a larger bowl. Work time

Week 3:
Briefly go over trimming. Trimming and work time.

Week 4:
Introduce ideas of sets, go over nesting sets. Basics of making a set. Show how to use calipers. Work time

Week 5:
Talk about decoration, introduce some alternative ways to decorate. Work time, trimming, decorating

Week 6:
Work time, trimming, decorating.

Week 7:
Work time, trimming, decorating.

Week 8:
Glazing

For kiddos to explore freely, we have a policy that parents aren’t in the classroom. We’ve also found that without guardians in the classroom, students have space to create more organic relationships and connections with others in the class. Parents or guardians may bring their student to the space and help them feel comfortable up to 10 minutes prior to the class start time, then guardians may sit outside of the classroom in our café or common area space. This way they are reachable if something comes up and the student is assured you are close by.