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.

Teaching Method

The main istructor Susanne Lukàcs-Ringel is supported by Eve Carrobourg for specific aspects like glazing and criti,que and by the assistant instructor Zsófia Földvári. They will provide demonstrations and instruction for the group and plenty of one-to-one assistance. Each student has a generous work space eqipped with a wheel, shelving and tools. During the second part of the course, particpants may pursue a project of their own choice, that will be chosen with the help of the instructors. On Centre will end with a final show. Images of prevous student work may be found here.

Logistics

Students will stay and study in the supportive environment of La Meridiana, with a generous working space at their disposal.
On every working day, a delicious lunch will be served. At booking, each participant may select the preferred room type, choosing between on site standard single rooms with shared bathroom, single rooms with en-suite bathroom at 3 minutes walking distance from the school or private on site apartments.
A  foremost ceramicists of wide experience will tutor the selected group of nine students.

Application

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

The artists and instructors

Susanne Luckàs-Ringel studied ceramics as an apprentice in Germany. In 1999 she opened her own studio and soon after built her first wood kiln. She produces a range of functional ware. As a mentor and teacher it is her mission to give support, to guide through the processes, to be open to questions while sharing enthusiasm and joy, but also focussing seriously on each individual as well as on the group. Her work is featured in magazines and books and shown internationally. She has participated in Residences in Japan and China and has won many awards. https://www.holzbrandkeramik.de/

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 of 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.

Zsófia Földvári grew up in Hungary. She graduated as a scientist, but after discovering a strong passion for clay, she changed direction and studied ceramics in Norway and Italy. Since 2023 she has worked at La Meridiana as a studio and teaching assistant and has participated in the training of students during the intensive course On Centre Fall. Zsófia enjoys making objects for comfortable use and quiet appreciation, preferring forms that follow a simple and harmonious geometry dictated by the natural gestures of the hand.

https://foldvarizsofia.com

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