Penland Highlights the First Four Weeks

Time flew while I was here at Penland for the spring concentration in clay with Cynthia Bringle. After 16 kiln firings I have a lot of reflecting to do on the past eight weeks. Due to the Internet connection at Penland I was not able to keep up with the blog posts. Instead, I will post a few highlights from the eight week concentration.

The first two weeks focused on core techniques; creating unomi, tea bowls, mugs and pulling handles. We learned to make out pots thinner and create a balanced between our handle and the pot's form. We fired our pots in salt and reduction kilns, the more firings we did the more data we gathered for better results.

 The third and forth week of the concentration we learned about Minoan cookware and cooking with Jerolyn Morrison.  We built coiled pots in the Minoan style with tri-pod legs. The pots were then bisqued fired and the insides covered in bees wax. Finally, we cooked Minoan style food for the Penland community that consisted of lentils, chickpeas, chicken, and squid. It was delicious.

 

By week four we were on to lidded forms and more firings. At this point we were encouraged by Cynthia to ask for others advise in the class. In retrospect this opened a flood gate of creativity in form. Most of my time was spent in the studio practicing, practicing, practicing. More to follow.