Get Wild: Harvesting & Processing Local Clay, 24SuT7

Join Minnesota native, Amy Joy Hosterman, for a weekend adventure in wild clay hunting, harvesting, and science. Hosterman directs the wild clay programming at the Visitor Center Artist Camp in Ewen, MI, creates wild clay pottery under the name Stinky Cheese Ceramics at her studio in Loveland, CO, and teaches workshops while traveling and hunting for wild clays across the country.

In this two-day workshop, you'll learn how to locate, identify, harvest, and process your own wild clays and natural additives. You'll also learn how to conduct basic tests, both in the field and back at the studio, to determine their suitability for use in your practice. Discuss soil science and sedimentary geology as they relate to finding and identifying clay deposits in your area, and compare the properties of a variety of wild clay samples that Hosterman has collected from across the country.

On Saturday, students will meet at NCC and then spend time off-site hunting for local wild clay and natural additives, interpreting local soil profiles, and getting hands-on experience in assessing clay for usability. Perform field tests and collect samples to bring back to the studio the next day. On Sunday, we meet in the studio again at NCC, to process our collected materials for use. Test batches of simple clay bodies with a variety of clays and additives found locally and brought in by Amy. Students can also bring in samples of (dry) clay from their own sources if they desire, to process and test. Students will leave equipped with basic knowledge of how to locate, process, and utilize wild clay, and will leave with their own small batches of one or more wild clay bodies to experiment with after the workshop.

This workshop is best suited for those who have an understanding of the stages of clay, building methods, material components, and are physically able to traverse hilly terrain. If you need any ADA accommodations, please reach out to education@northernclaycenter.org at least three weeks before the workshop. Students will need to provide their own transportation to the off-site location on the first day; the location will be within 30 minutes of NCC and will be sent to participants closer to the workshop.

T7: Saturday, August 10, 10 am - 3 pm & Sunday, August 11, 10 am - 2 pm
Instructor: Amy Joy Hosterman
Fee: $200 (5% member discount)