01-2026 – On Centre – Pietro Elia Maddalena

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. During the second part of the course there is  time for personal growth. In developing skill, participants will glaze and fire a considerable body of work so that ease 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 Pietro Elia Maddalena is supported by Eve Carrobourg for specific aspects like glazing and critique and by the assistant instructor Zsófia Földvári. They will provide demonstrations and instruction for the group and plenty of one-to-one assistance. Pietro and Eve will conduct the evaluation sessions to provide constant feedback on the results achieved. 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 previous 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. Day of arrival is Sunday January 4th, with first class day Monday January 5th. Departure day  is March 27th 2025.
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.
The grop size is of maximum nine students.

Application

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

The artist and instructor

Pietro Elia Maddalena studied ceramics at the West Surrey College of Art & Design in England. After two more years of work at Dartington Workshop, he returned to Italy where in 1980 he established a studio near Florence. Pietro is the founder and director of LA MERIDIANA. Also instructor and maker he says of himself : “ I am totally and continuously interested in the process of making. I see the craft object as a projection of the human spirit and the culture in which it was nurtured. In elaborating concept, material and process, my ultimate goal is the expression of beauty through sophisticated and sensual forms”.

www.pietro.net 
@meridianaceramics

Assistant instructors

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 and currently works in Norway. She graduated as a scientist, but upon discovering a strong passion for clay, changed directions and trained in ceramics in Norway and Italy. In 2023 she worked at La Meridiana as a studio- and teaching assistant, taking part in the training of students during the intensive course On Centre Fall. She is associated with the Oslo-based atelier collective Kroloftet, where she teaches wheel-throwing classes. Zsófia enjoys to make objects for comfortable use and quiet appreciation, preferring shapes that follow a simple and harmonious geometry dictated by the natural gestures of the hand.

https://foldvarizsofia.com 
@thecuriousdandelion