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25A-2025 – Margaret Bohls – From Ancient Vessels to Contemporary Forms
June 15 – 28 2025
A journey of inspiration, learning to transform historical forms into your own, personal expression
Handbuilding. Some ceramic experience required
Introduction
In this intense workshop, you will explore ancient pottery forms of Italy and transform historical inspiration in your own, personal expression. Through targeted field trips and concentrated studio time, you will achieve new methods of work and an insight into Italian culture that will inform your studio practice for a long time after the workshop.
Teaching method
Through museum visits in Florence and Volterra, students will study the historical pottery and vessels of the ancient Etruscan culture, drawing inspiration for their own work. Using the coil-building and wheel-throwing techniques taught in this workshop, students will make vessels of their own, based on photographs and drawings of these objects. Supported by personal guidance and the vast experience of Margareth Bohls, each student will develop their own, very personal vocabulary.
Techniques taught
The class will use local earthenware clay, slips and terra sigillata. Techniques taught will include sketching as a tool for making, coil building, making handles, lids and spouts and applying raised surface decoration.
Optional add on in Rome
Students are invited to join Margaret Bohls in Rome for a preparatory museum visit at the National Etruscan Museum Villa Giulia. Margaret will send students a brief video overview of Etruscan Ceramics ahead of time so that they have an idea of what they will be looking for. Students will meet at the museum in the morning of Sunday June 15th at 10:00 am and Margaret will act as guide. This part is optional and not included in the workshop fee, students will need to book lodging in Rome and the museum entrance by themselves.
Logistics
The workshop includes several field trips off the beaten tracks, and is a chance to explore Etruscan pottery, known for the exquisite forms of their vessels. Ground transportation is included. This course is best for those with some ceramics experience, either hand-building or wheel throwing.
On every classday, a delicious meal will be served. At booking, you may select your preferred room type, choosing between standard lodging, single room and/or upgraded accommodation. Please note that depending on the availability, certain types at times may not be offered. The last kiln opening will be in the morning of Saturday, please plan your travels so to not need to leave La Meridiana before 9.30 am.
The artist
Margaret Bohls is an American potter and educator who makes hand-built pottery and vessels. Bohls has been teaching ceramics at the college level for twenty-three years and is currently Associate Professor of Art at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She has taught hands-on workshops at renowned art centers. Bohls’ work has been shown in over 100 group and solo exhibitions since 1995 and is included in the permanent collections of the Minnesota Museum of American Art, the American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA), the Weisman Museum of Art. She has written articles for the Journal of the National Council for Education on Ceramic Arts and Pottery Making Illustrated, and her ceramic work has been featured in periodicals such as Ceramics Monthly and Studio Potter Magazine.www.margaretbohls.com
| Artist | Margaret Bohls |
|---|---|
| Length of course | 10 working days in the studio |
| Technique | Handbuilding |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Workshop fee (without lodging) | Euro 3280 |
| Deposit for booking | Euro 800 |
Workshop fee with lodging
The costs listed include both: the workshop fee and the lodging.
Standard accommodation in shared double room, at 15 minutes walking distance from La Meridiana – Final course cost: Euro 3720
Standard accommodation in single room, at 15 minutes walking distance from La Meridiana – Final course cost: Euro 4080
Private apartment with air condition, at maximum 15 minutes walking distance from La Meridiana. Final course cost: Euro 4680
Course without lodging Euro 3280
Payment - Refund Policy
A deposit is required at registration. After submitting the registration form, you may proceed with the payment on-line. If you choose to pay by bank transfer, the registration will be confirmed once the deposit has been accredited in our banking account. The balance must be paid at the beginning of the course.
Cancellation
You may withdraw within 14 days of registration without incurring in any penalties and will have the deposit fully refunded. No refund of deposits past 14 days of registration, pursuant to articles 53 and following of the EU consumer protection legislation.
If La Meridiana cannot hold the course due to unforeseen events beyond our control, La Meridiana reserves the right to offer a voucher for a different course of your choice. The voucher is valid for two years. The deposit will be transferred to the new course.
Additional information
The workshop fee includes the following:
Tuition of 6 – 8 hours per day;
Studio open 11 hours per day;
All materials and firings;
Freshly prepared three course lunch with wine on all working days;
Welcome breakfast, Welcome and Final dinner;
Coffee break in the mornings and in the evenings.
Artist statement
Bohls’ work is grounded in an abiding interest in historical vessel forms, and in the social context of these objects. Her methodology for creating new work often begins with a study of a particular set of historical vessels. She strives to identify a set of physical, formal attributes of these objects that visually communicate something about the culture that produced them or the era during which they were created. She uses drawing to distill the objects down to their critical visual and formal characteristics. These drawings become the basis for the creation of a series of ceramic forms of her own. Her most recent series of work is based on several types of historical vessels produced on the Italian peninsula including Etruscan pottery and Italian Majolica. She has created still-life-like groupings that in some ways mimic the museum installations she studied in a recent trip to Italy.
