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Workshop • 2 - Day Korean Wheel Throwing Masterclass
with Kwak Kyungtae
Join us for an intensive 2-day masterclass where Teacher Kwak will share and teach the traditional techniques of Korean wheel throwing in a focused and engaging format. Classes will be taught by Teacher Kwak with his two apprentices, providing an excellent teacher to student ratio. Experience a unique and immersive opportunity designed for pottery enthusiasts.
An Exclusive Masterclass Led by Teacher Kwak
This masterclass welcomes participants of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced potters. While the core curriculum is accessible to everyone, we provide personalized 1:1 guidance to cater to each individual’s level and aspirations throughout the class.
This course distills the essence of Korean throwing philosophy and deconstructs each step in the making process to provide a clear, direct, and repeatable framework for participants to follow. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and will be given the opportunity to see the master demonstrate a form they are interested in outside of our curriculum.
Topics covered:
- History and context of the Korean approach to clay sourcing, storage and preparation
- Spiral wedging (Gomak-milgi) and closing the spiral into a cylindrical form for more efficient centering
- Fundamentals of centering a large mass of clay for throwing off the hump, with emphasis on relaxing the clay for better clay response
- Exploration of sabal (teabowl) making, with a breakdown of steps to better understand each phase of the making process and finger placements
- Korean style trimming demo using handmade tools and understanding the harmonic relationship between throwing and trimming in relation to the final form
- Developing a more discerning “eye” for line and form by separating the structural and shaping phases of throwing
- Demo of cylinders, plates, and teapots off the hump with advanced techniques
- Large sabal (bowl), hangari (Jars), dalhangari (Moon Jar, 2 piece joining technique)
- Buncheong decorating techniques: Dipping Buncheong and Brushing Buncheong
- Discussion on developing a ‘practice’ on your own and progression outline for self-study.
Daily Schedule:
10:00am-1:00pm
Lunch Break
2:30pm-5:30PM
Masterclass Includes:
- High-quality stoneware clay
- A comprehensive tool set valued at $50 for each student, including 4 wooden tools, 2 metal ribs, and 1 shammy tool
- Translation by Teacher Kwak’s apprentice
- Basic communal tools (feel free to bring your own)
- Snacks, coffee, and tea available throughout the day
Please Note: Firing service is not included; if you wish to fire your pieces an additional fee will apply based on the size of the items.
This class takes place at Groundworks East (3063 E. Sterling Cir.)
Ages: 16+
BAL • Adult • Chinese New Year Card Printing - The Fire Horse • THU (Feb 19) • $120 • East
with Julia Seko and Greg Robl
Join Julia and Greg in the BAL letterpress shop to make cards/prints to celebrate the Chinese New Year! This year will be the year of the fire horse. We'll begin by planning the fire horse design as a group. With two colors and two passes, students will learn the art of pressure printing, layering colors, and if time allows, setting lead type. Printing will be completed on the BAL's Vandercook presses. Each student will go home with a frame worthy print or set of cards with matching envelopes.
If you are a BAL member please reach out to registration@groundworksartlab.org for a $10 off discount.
Ages: 16+
This class takes place at Groundworks East (3063 E. Sterling Cir)
Class will be available for registration December 8th at 8:00am.
Clay - Date Night
Join us at Groundworks Art Lab's Date Night! Our instructors will get you set up and working together on potters' wheels for a few hours of dirt and fun.
Make a piece, we'll glaze and fire your favorite one, then give you a call when it's ready in about four weeks.
For any additional pieces you would like glazed and fired, there is a $5 fee per piece.
It's good to wear some clothes you can get dirty and shorter nails will be helpful. :)
Each participant will need their own registration to participate.
Clay and tools are included.
Must be 18+
PLEASE NOTE:
⁃ Date Night tickets are non-refundable. If you need to change or reschedule your reservation, please do so by 5:00pm on the Monday before your scheduled Date Night. No transfers are allowed after 5:00pm on the Monday prior to your Date Night.
⁃ Registrations are not transferable to another person. If you would like to purchase a class on someone’s behalf, the intended registratrant’s information must be provided at the time of registration.
⁃ Date Night tickets may only be rescheduled one time.
Metal - Date Night
Bring a little bling to your next fancy dinner party by hand-forging a pair of one-of-a-kind leaf-shaped napkin rings. This class will spend a little time going over shop safety, tools and equipment, and techniques such as tapering, bending, and hot chiseling.
PLEASE NOTE:⁃
Date Night tickets are non-refundable. If you need to change or reschedule your reservation, please do so by 5:00pm on the Monday before your scheduled Date Night. No transfers are allowed after 5:00pm on the Monday prior to your Date Night.
⁃ Registrations are not transferable to another person. If you would like to purchase a class on someone’s behalf, the intended registratrant’s information must be provided at the time of registration.
⁃ Date Night tickets may only be rescheduled one time.
Will run
BAL • Adult • Leather Spine Hard Covers Binding • SAT (Feb 28) • $160 • East
with Brenda Gallagher
This book combines the soft opening of a leather spine with the sturdy firmness of board covers. The completed book opens nearly perfectly flat making it an ideal book for your journal writing or drawing. Creating your book involves sewing folded signatures through a leather spine with the long stitch. We will begin by getting acquainted with paper grain and its importance for the finished book. We will cover the boards of the book with decorative paper and once dry we'll drill holes in the covers to prepare for sewing. The leather spine will also need holes for sewing which we will pierce with an awl or drill. Paper signatures will be folded and pierced and then we'll take a short break for lunch. After lunch we will learn to sew the long stitch to bind the book. Covers will then be sewn onto the leather spine piece. By the end of the workshop, you will have completed your book, and have the skill to make more on your own. Class fee includes all materials we use to make a book: leather for the spine, a sheet of decorative paper to cover boards, paper for your signatures, a pair of pre-cut cover boards, glue, and waxed-linen thread. Please bring your own basic bookbinder's toolkit: bonefolder, pencil, awl, Xacto knife, scissors, ruler, and a bookbinder's needle. If you don't have any of these, the BAL will have student tools to share.
If you are a BAL member please reach out to registration@groundworksartlab.org for a $10 off discount.
Ages: 16+
This class takes place at Groundworks East (3063 E. Sterling Cir)
Class will be available for registration December 8th at 8:00am.
Clay - Date Night
Join us at Groundworks Art Lab's Date Night! Our instructors will get you set up and working together on potters' wheels for a few hours of dirt and fun.
Make a piece, we'll glaze and fire your favorite one, then give you a call when it's ready in about four weeks.
For any additional pieces you would like glazed and fired, there is a $5 fee per piece.
It's good to wear some clothes you can get dirty and shorter nails will be helpful. :)
Each participant will need their own registration to participate.
Clay and tools are included.
Must be 18+
PLEASE NOTE:
⁃ Date Night tickets are non-refundable. If you need to change or reschedule your reservation, please do so by 5:00pm on the Monday before your scheduled Date Night. No transfers are allowed after 5:00pm on the Monday prior to your Date Night.
⁃ Registrations are not transferable to another person. If you would like to purchase a class on someone’s behalf, the intended registratrant’s information must be provided at the time of registration.
⁃ Date Night tickets may only be rescheduled one time.
Will run
Print - Monoprint Date Night
Bring a Bestie, your Bae, or even your Baba for a night of creating. Our instructor will get you set up on a project for a few hours of ink and fun. You will try your hand at monotype printing by mixing and rolling ink, and learning the process to make three unique prints. Participants are encouraged to bring their own flower or piece of foliage to print with!Anyone with a passion for nature and the arts is encouraged to join!*Don't forget to wear or bring clothes you don't mind getting inky! Fabric ink will not wash out.
PLEASE NOTE:
⁃ Date Night tickets are non-refundable. If you need to change or reschedule your reservation, please do so by 5:00pm on the Monday before your scheduled Date Night. No transfers are allowed after 5:00pm on the Monday prior to your Date Night.
⁃ Registrations are not transferable to another person. If you would like to purchase a class on someone’s behalf, the intended registratrant’s information must be provided at the time of registration.
⁃ Date Night tickets may only be rescheduled one time.
Crossover (Clay/Wood) • Adult • Animal Masks • MON (Mar. 2 - April 20) • $355 • MAIN
with Margaret Josey-Parker
Come explore the intriguing world of mixed media. We will be utilizing coil and slap built clay forms embellished with carved and sculpted wooden elements to create an animal like mask to hang on the wall. The clay forms can be decorated with a variety of techniques that will be covered in class. The finished wooden elements will be cleverly attached after firing. Students are encouraged to bring in other mixed media elements to add to their sculptural pieces to make them truly unique. This 8 week class will take place in the clay and wood studios, beginning with clay mixing in wood carving days and finishing with assembly.
This class will be co-taught by Margaret Josey-Parker (Clay) and Julia German (Wood)
Open Lab: The clay portion of this class does not come with additional open lab time. Once the class switches into the wood studio, students will have access to the wood studio during open lab times.
What to wear to the wood studio?
Safety First: Long pants, and closed-toe, closed-heel shoes with socks that protect up to the ankle. Shirts and tops should be easy to tuck in, with sleeves that can be rolled up as needed. Tie back long hair to ensure safety. We offer safety goggles, dust masks and ear protection, and they must be worn in the wood studio. Feel free to bring your own if you are more comfortable with them. Jewelry, loose-fitting clothing, or any other items that could dangle will need to be secured while using machines.
Safety Information:
- Closed-toed, closed-heel shoes
- Long Pants
- Shirts should be easily tucked and sleeves pulled up, Hair tied back
- Eye and lung protection are provided and must be worn in the studio
Ages: 16+
Class will be available for registration Monday, February 2 at 8:00am.