Introduction

On Centre is a twelve week in depth experience on throwing, glazing, clay bodies and firing techniques for functional ceramics. It is aimed at committed people who wish to develop in-depth skills through focused training and qualified instruction.

Aims

The primary aim of the On Centre intensive course is to help participants achieve confidence and fluency, which comes from the ability to efficiently throw items in quantity. Secondly, participants will explore the possibilities of high fire materials, so that they can select, adapt and use them with competence.  Through continuous training, work in a small group of eight participants and one-on-one attention from the instructors, students will achieve consistent progress at an individual pace. Furthermore, the exchange  of information and the discussion within the group will contribute to the active learning environment.

The programme

The course will cover the throwing and trimming of both repeated and unique wheel made objects, the compounding and alteration of high temperature clay bodies, slips and glazes and the firing of gas and wood kilns. Oxidised and reduced firings will both be undertaken.

The second part of the course will give time for more personal growth. In developing skill participants will glaze and fire a considerable body of work so that fluency of making is matched by knowledge and fluency in finishing work. With dedication, relative beginners are just as likely to benefit fully from the course as those with more experience. Work of previous participants may be seen here.

Logistics

Students will stay and study in the supportive environment of La Meridiana, with logistics like lodging, transportation and lunch taken care of. They will have a generous working space at their disposal. On every working day, a delicious lunch will be served. A  foremost ceramicists of wide experience will tutor the selected group of eight students.

Application

Application is ongoing. Interested students should write to La Meridiana for information about the cost.

The artists and instructors

There will be a main istructor, supported by an additional instructor for some specific aspects like glazing.

Sandy Lockwood has been making pots and teaching for over 40 years. She holds a graduate Diploma of Visual Arts, Master of Visual arts and a PhD. In 1980 she established her Studio in the Southern Highlands. Her work is widely and internationally recognised. Her teaching experience ranges from teaching beginners to teaching postgraduate level, in most areas of ceramics practice. Sandy provides technical instruction, creative encouragement and personal support to develop both work and creative ideas. Students have reported that they enjoy the good humoured and mutually supportive atmosphere in her classes. www.sandylockwood.com.au

After her studies in Art History in Paris and Florence, Eve Carrobourg pursued in the field of ceramics. She was trained at La Meridiana under the guidance of its founder Pietro Maddalena and John Colbeck. She extended her collaboration by staying as workshop-technician for the School where she discovered a true passion for glazes.
After having completed a specialization on high-fire glazes in France, she worked as a full-time teacher on glaze-technology at the CNIFOP Ceramic Centre in France.
She was prized by the “Marcel-Bleustein-Blanchet Foundation” to fulfill a research on glazes. She is currently completing her research in order to publish a book on high-fire glazes.