This workshop explores the creation of expressive, slightly larger-than-life ceramic heads that prioritize gesture, exaggeration, and surface over literal realism. Participants will work solid and with armatures while developing an understanding of structure, proportion, and intentional distortion. The course begins with a low-fire soda kiln experience, allowing participants to explore atmospheric surface effects that will inform their sculptural work. Designed for artists ready to push beyond safe forms, this workshop emphasizes focused making, problem-solving, and guided experimentation.

In this class you will learn to craft a variety of flowers with clay to adorn hand built and thrown vases. Each participant will be given one thrown vase to decorate and make one hand-built vase to decorate.  Class meets September 1 and glazing will take place on September 9th. No experience necessary. 

In this 4 day hand building class, we will make objects commonly found on your dinner table using the slab roller and slabs of clay, texture pads, etc.  Objects to be made could be Plates, Bowls, Salt/Pepper Shakers, Candle Sticks, Pitcher, etc.   Templates will be provided for students to use, although students are welcome to create their own.  In an effort to get through as many projects as we can, this class is designed to make examples, not entire plate settings or dinnerware sets.  The class includes Open Studio only on the day of class.  There is no glazing component to this class.  Please see Glazing Class in the Resident Artist Schedule.

In this 4 day hand building class, we will make objects commonly found on your dinner table using the slab roller and slabs of clay, texture pads, etc.  Objects to be made could be Plates, Bowls, Salt/Pepper Shakers, Candle Sticks, Pitcher, etc.   Templates will be provided for students to use, although students are welcome to create their own.  In an effort to get through as many projects as we can, this class is designed to make examples, not entire plate settings or dinnerware sets.  The class includes Open Studio only on the day of class.  There is no glazing component to this class.  Please see Glazing Class in the Resident Artist Schedule.

The Bascom Clay Symposium returns for its 16th year in 2026, bringing together ceramic artists Alexander Thierry, Andrew Shaw, and Tiffany Thomas for a focused exploration of surface treatments in contemporary clay. Through demonstrations and shared dialogue, the artists examine how imagery, pattern, and material process shape meaning, memory, and expression in ceramic work.

This class is for students who have bisque pieces ready to glaze.  These pieces could have been made in Open Studio, the Resident Artist Series, Workshops, etc.  

In this 5 day Raku firing class, students need to have bisque pots ready to fire.  Pots need to be made in advance so that we can spend class time glazing and firing.  Students need to think about having 10-15 small to medium size pots to fire.  No pots bigger than 12 inches in any direction.  There is no Open Studio after class.

In this 5 day hand building class, we will create holiday themed clay projects using the slab roller.  Projects include snowmen luminaries, Christmas village luminaries, gnomes, advent wreath/Hanukkah menorah, etc.  Templates will be provided, but students are welcome to create their own.   The class includes Open Studio only on the day of class.  There is no glazing component included in the class.  Please see Glazing Class in the Resident Artist Schedule. 

This class is for students who have bisque pieces ready to glaze.  These pieces could have been made in Open Studio, the Resident Artist Series, Workshops, etc.  

Step into the world of imaginative clay sculpture with artists Christine and Taylor in this four day workshop devoted to creating woodland beings, with special attention to owls and hares. Through demonstrations and guided studio time, participants will explore approaches that foreground gesture, character, and narrative, learning how subtle shifts in posture, proportion, and expression can transform form into story.