11-2023 – Isabella Fazzo – Freedom and Structure in the Creative Process 2023/24
Monthly on-line meetings and a final workshop during the time span of March 5 2023 – January 20 2024
What transforms us, transforms the world around us. Creativity is generosity
Monthly online meetings plus a hands-on workshop
Introduction
Freedom and Structure in the Creative Process is designed for those who want to explore and activate the creative mind and revitalize their work in accordance with their unique self. The instructor will guide students with exercises and will provide tools to inspire ongoing, independent artistic development of ideas and techniques. As a group, we will develop different aspects of our being, broadening our consciousness of concepts of wholeness and change.
Freedom
Every authentic creative gesture is a source of energy, originating from individual, internal strength. What matters more than its uniqueness or brilliance is that it be conceived and matured through internal dialogue. Every authentic gesture—even the simplest of gestures— nourishes us and is woven into the material we choose to use; it imbues us with positive feelings and shapes meaningful objects. These we can then gladly share with others.
Structure
Creativity is life. However, to express the natural creativity of life in ourselves it is not sufficient to focus on the free gesture but it is necessary to provide a structure that contains and gives form to creativity. This class does not teach techniques in accordance with an established aesthetic code, rather it supports an individual path where each student develops their own way to express their intent. Inner freedom and technical sensitivity thus meet in a balance that invigorates the maker’s dialogue with their materials.
Programme and Logistics
The course takes place over a time span of 10 months, starting with an online group meeting on Sunday, March 5th, 2023 and ending with an in-person workshop from January 7 – 20, 2024. It includes ten 2.5 hour long online group meetings and five 1 hour long online individual meetings. During the group meetings, a variety of exercises will be assigned to stimulate and empower both the creative abilities and the critical mind. Projects will be assigned for practice in clay and in 2-D formats.
In addition, there will be will be two online guest instructors to hold lectures, a short on line workshop and provide additional feedback to students. During the individual meetings, students will discuss ideas as well as challenges of implementation they have encountered during their “homework” . In conclusion of the course, all students and the instructor will meet for a 2-week-long (ten working days) workshop at La Meridiana. During this time, students will produce their personal project to be displayed in the final group exhibition.
The group meetings are scheduled at specific times. Within reason and upon request PRIOR to the start of the course, there may be the possibility of changing the time or the dates. For the individual meetings, Isabella will agree on the exact timing with each student within a timeframe of availability that may include either weekdays or weekends.
It is mandatory for participants to have access to a ceramic studio at home. Some previouse experience with clay is desirable.
Maximum number of students is of 8.
The artist
Isabella Fazzo was born in Milan. She studied art, specializing in ceramics at the Royal Forest of Dean College in Gloucestershire, England. In Italy, she attended courses at La Meridiana and studied under the guidance of the founder Pietro Elia Maddalena, In 2008, she obtained a Master of Arts in Ceramics from U.W.I.C. Cardiff Metropolitan University. She lives in Florence where she works and teaches, collaborating with various institutions. She says of herself: “I move in many different fields of creativity and teach in these fields with joy, passion and astonishment. Life has brought unexpected as well as surprising experiences and perhaps most importantly, has led to look at it always with fresh sight. ” http://www.isabellafazzo.com
| Artist: | Isabella Fazzo |
|---|---|
| Date: | The class begins with an online group meeting on Sunday, March 5th, 2023 and ends with an in-person workshop January 7 – 20 2024. |
| Level of Course: | Some experience required |
| Total cost: | € 3950,00 |
| Deposit for booking: | € 800,00 |
AVAILABLE!
- Aims of the course
- Info
- Payment and Refund Policy
- Detailed Programme
- Recent comments of previous participants
Aims of the course
– developping creativity at home through individual and group exercises, research, two and three -dimensional work.
– establishing a dialogue with materials that embraces every aspect: technical, formal, conceptual, spiritual.
– understanding and learning to use the mechanisms of analogies and symbols.
– creating a personal dialogue with one’s own internal and external reality, free from prejudices and expectations.
– getting in touch with one’s own creative energy and develop one’s own personal language.
– to deepen and broaden one’s use of ceramic techniques, giving them not only value as a means to an end, but also as an end in themselves, to understand them and to explore their intrinsic meaning.
– learning to work with what materials are available and using the time you have.
– study the use of clay in an unconventional way and in combination with other materials.
– develop a personal project—which may change over time— rooted in and inspired by one’s inner truth.
Info
The cost of the course includes:
- In-person workshops at La Meridiana of ten (10) full working days in the studio.
- Clay and firing within reason during the hands-on workshops (please note that requests for materials beyond the school’s normal stock and for firings of extra-large pieces cannot be guaranteed).
- Lodging in double room with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. Single room upon request, supplement of 230 € per week.
- Lunch during the workshop days.
- 25 hours of online group meetings.
- 5 hours of individual online lessons.
- Two online guest lectures of 2 hours each.
- One online guest workshop with Federico Vianello.
Not included:
- Materials for at-home assignments during the year.
Payment and 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.
Cancellations
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.
Detailed Programme
MONTH 1
Sunday, March 5th at 15.00 (CET/ Italian time), First group meeting
– Getting to know each other, introducing ourselves to connect and work better together at a distance.
– Reviewing the importance of keeping a journal and a sketchbook.
How to use your time: different personalities, different times and ways
– Lecture 1: Our root in Time
Assignments for the next two weeks: Museum-selection-drawing-inspiration
The week of March 20-26th is for individual tutorials 1, to be organized in consideration of individual needs.
Individual assignments done in clay.
MONTH 2
April 15 – Saturday afternoon Group Meeting 2. Students share and discuss their ideas and results.
– The techniques and their personality
– Communicating is a form of listening, seeing is touching
– Lecture 2: Art and Technique
Assignments: The importance of writing to free your mind, Thoughts are traces.
– Visual research and reflection on techniques. Application on clay. Project 1
– Suggested Movie to watch
MONTH 3
April 24-30, this week is for individual tutorials 2 to be organized in response to individual needs.
May 20 – Saturday afternoon. Group Meeting 3. Students share and discuss their ideas and results.
– Lecture 3: Symbols and Forces. What are symbols and their use: analogy and paradox PP, the pillars of the creative and meaningful message
Assignments: The clays and their personality/ the materials and their personality
– Evolution of the project one in project two
– Suggested Movie to watch
MONTH 4
June 4- Sunday afternoon– Guest Lecture and workshop with Federico Vianello, conceptual goldsmith.
This group meeting 4 can be longer than 2 hours.
Assignments: working in clay with Federico Vianello assignment Project 3
MONTH 4 and half
June 18– Sunday- Group meeting 5 – Presentation of the work assigned by Federico Vianello to the group and individual discussion with Federico.
This meeting can be longer than 2 hours, it could be split between morning and afternoon
Assignment: Students keep going with the personal research, practice and studies discussed both in group and individually. The students have to present to the class a finished work by the next class
– Suggested Movie to watch
MONTH 5
July 3-9 this week is for individual tutorials 3 to be organized in respect of individual needs.
July 22 Saturday Group meeting 6, presentation of a finished work (Extended Project 1.2.3) inspired to the personal project and research
Assignment: Make the personal project presented, reversal, with a different material, with a different technique
– Suggested movie to watch
AUGUST HOLIDAY, No meetings. But, if necessary, you can communicate with me
MONTH 6
September 10 Sunday– Group meeting 7, Guest lecture Natasha Mayo
– What is a dissertation
Assignment: “The Work”, free from prejudice
– Students produce sketches and drafts in clay using “the work” Project 4
– Student begin to write their dissertation
MONTH 7
October 7 Saturday– Group Meeting 8- Students share their experience and result with “the Work”
– Colours through time and space
During this month students develop a new point of view on their Topic that can be discussed with Natasha Mayo the following month.
Assignment: Students begin to conceive the last project 5
October 16-22 this week is for individual tutorials 4 to be organized in response to individual needs.
MONTH 8
November 5 Sunday- Group meeting 9 – The students share ideas and work in clay with the support of a single tutorial with Natasha Mayo
This meeting can be longer than 2 hours, it could be split between Saturday and Sunday
Assignment: work in progress on the dissertation.
– Work in progress on the final project
Students produce a PowerPoint to present their work and research next month
During months 9 and 10, students can request individual meeting 5 as needed with Isabella.
MONTH 9
December 2 Saturday and/or 3 Sunday Group meeting: Final presentation This meeting can be longer than 2 hours, it could be split between Saturday and Sunday.
Merry Christmas!
MONTH 10 January 2024
FINAL CLASS AND EXHIBITION
The class will end in January 2024 with a hands – on workshop and exhibition January 7 – 20 2024 at La Meridiana International School of Ceramics!
Recent comments of previous participants
“Isabella is a wonderful guide through the meanders of the creative process. Her class showed me how to structure my process without compromising creative freedom. I found confidence in my work and in the possibility of bringing it with me into my future practice. I would absolutely recommend this course to anyone who’s starting their artistic journey and wants to find their own voice.”
Valentina
“I think Isabella Fazzo is one of the best ceramic teachers I have known so far. Besides her enthusiasm and commitment, she also provides that very important spiritual and personal part, next to the content. The powerpoints were interesting: the didactic material was perfect.What I liked most were the individual meetings where Isabella could really ‘read’ me and give personal advise.”
Elise
“Isabella, your work helped me connect ceramics with the hidden parts of the soul. It also contributed with your immense cultural knowledge and the reinterpretation of it applied to ceramics. I wanted to thank you personally for the energy you have put into this project that has surpasses expectations.”
Mariana
“This year long course was a stimulating creative experience. Isabella Fazzo is a bright, generous and most engaged artist and teacher. She listens carefully and is able to highlight aspects that can be useful in each individual’s creative journey. As the title announces, this course will give you the openness to free your creative outlook, yet at the same time help you narrow and structure the work in a well rounded output. I would strongly recommend anyone looking for «focus and freedom» to work with Isabella.”
Helena