Joseph Pesina

Personalized Open Studio Practice

January 20-31 2025

(STUDIO MEMBERS ONLY)

Do you: 

Have a vision you can't quite bring to life?

Want to throw bigger or a new shape?

Want to take your inspirations and make something truly your own?

Want to simply make your practice more efficient? 

Then our January Personalized Open Studio workshop is for you. 

Joesph Pesina joins us for two weeks at the end of January. The workshop is offered as day passes 3,5,7 or 10 days. Each day (8 students limit) or evening (4 student limit) Joseph will spend a minimum of 30 mins with each person setting them up with the steps and skills needed to bring their vision to life.  Students can also expect will scheduled demos during the week, you can attend any of the demos regardless of whether or not it's one of your scheduled days. Demos will also be recorded and the recordings made available to everyone. Joseph has been teaching for 20 yrs and has a real passion for helping potters of all levels reach the next phase in their development. Either wheel thrown or hand build Joseph's skills span both. 

Come join us in January and see what some focused and personalized attention can do for your practice. 

Cost 3 or 5 day @$150 per day

7 or 10 day @$125 per day

Studio Note:  We are really excited to see what this workshop can bring to our studio growth.  We have worked really hard to put together an amazing plan for an individualized open studio styled workshop hoping to set in place the tools you need for further expansion during your everyday studio practice.  This is a workshop for potters who want to truly expand THEIR practice, for potters who want find discipline, efficiency, while expanding on techniques for an overall more successful open studio practice.  It does not matter where you are in your clay journey, nor does it matter if you throw or hand-build, this is a workshop tailored to you and what you need to get where you want to go.  This is a workshop about personal growth.  We really hope you enjoy!!

Casey, Gail, Joseph, Elaine

Joseph is a ceramic artist from northeast Wisconsin, and most recently Halifax, Nova Scotia. Joseph received his BFA from Utah State University and MFA from NSCAD University. He has completed artists residencies at The Clay Studio of Missoula, The Pottery Workshop and Experimental Factory in Jingdezhen, China, and The Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek, WI. Joseph's current work explores themes of vessel abstraction, architecture, geometry, and spatial relationships via the lens of modularity and formalist principles. He currently lives with his wife and child in Missoula MT. and is the studio manager and technician for The Clay Studio of Missoula. 

Christy Knox

Natural Elements Pottery

March 2-9, 2025

Clay and Nature

Embossed Surface/ Handbuilt Form

Want to become a better hand builder? Let’s take a deep dive...

During this weeklong workshop we will explore simple and complex form, (mugs, bowls, vases, pitchers and lidded vessels), using soft slab construction techniques such as cutting, darting, stretching, and the use of coils. We will learn how to make coil handles and a variety of spouts. Slab construction is such a delightful way to make pots!

Using embossing plates, the surfaces will be embellished to create three dimensional plant imagery on the surface of the clay. Creating a raised relief surface can make surfaces sing. Then, we will learn how to make our own embossing plates using plants growing in this magnificent area.

In and around making pots we will also discuss functional and aesthetic considerations related to form, processing pots through the kiln, how to inlay oxides, as well as glazing tips and techniques.

And we will be working in one of the most beautiful places on earth; could it get any better?

Christy will be doing a One Day Demo Only Workshop on March 1 (see description above) This day is optional but included in your workshop. Please plan to come if you can!

Workshop content is suitable for all level students. 

Enrollment is limited to 15 participants.

TUITION: $1250: 7 DAYS of hands on instruction!! We will have a rest day on Friday 3/7, you are welcome to come into the studio, but there will be no instruction that day as we will be firing the big kiln. This price includes the one day demo workshop on the 1st.

A 25%  non-refundable deposit of $312.50  is needed to hold your space.  We accept credit card, check, Venmo. Final Payment of $937.50 is due by JANUARY 16th. Price includes instruction, lunch and refreshments throughout the day, firings, glazes, use of studio equipment, and 50# of B mix. More clay may be purchased during the workshop if needed.

Please make checks payable to:

St John VI Pottery, Inc

9901 EMMAUS, ST JOHN VI 00830

CANCELLATION POLICY

If a cancellation is received more than 45 days prior to the start of class, you will be refunded the full amount paid less the $312.50 non-refundable deposit. There is no refund if a cancellation is made within 45 days of the start of the course. Should the studio need to cancel due to low enrollment, or other unforeseeable issues, you will receive a full refund of any monies paid.

Tip: if you arrive on island a few days early please feel free to stop by to familiarize yourself with where we are and how to navigate yourself around!

Please Note this workshop is during our VERY busy tourist season and arrangements for accommodations if you are coming from off island should be made EARLY. Contact us for recommendations.

MATERIALS & TOOLS

Tuition covers 50 pounds of B Mix and firings during the workshop session. More clay may be purchased during the workshop for $5 per pound, half bag $ 55 or full bag $105 ( yes our clay is expensive but it includes your firing fees, glazes, kilns etc.) A hand building space, and shelving will be provided for each student.  Students should plan to bring their own tools; however, an assortment of standard hand building tools are available for shared use during the workshop.

MEALS

We put out a lovely lunch everyday of the workshop. Vegetarian options will be available. Please let us know when you sign up if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions we should keep in mind.

PACKING / SHIPPING FINISHED WORK

There will be bisque firings and one glaze firing during the course of the workshop. Students will take home glaze-fired pieces and some bisque ware by the end of the week.   On the Sunday before the kiln unloading we can have packing and shipping demonstration for those interested.  On Sunday afternoon, after the last kiln is unloaded, students will be able to pack their own work for shipment if needed.  Materials for this will be available for purchase.  The cost of packing materials and shipping is the responsibility of the participant.  Packages can be shipped US Postal Service.  *****We are happy to bring packed up packages to the post office for you and get them off, no shipping on Sundays :)

ABOUT CHRISTY KNOX

Christy Knox is a ceramic artist, educator and naturalist from the United States. Her work specializes in soft slab construction combined with embossed surface decoration made from local flora. She holds a bachelors degree in art education from the University of Illinois and received an MFA in Ceramics from Ohio University. Her work has been represented by galleries throughout the United States and is held in privates collections around the world. Christy has made a life as a full time studio potter for more than 35 years, taught workshops across the country and her work has been published in two books on ceramics.

https://www.christyknox.com/

QUESTIONS?

Please email us at potteryinparadise@gmail.com

Students must be 18 or older by the start of the course to register. Registration takes place on a first come, first serve basis. Enrollment is limited to 15 participants per session. In the event that a workshop reaches maximum enrollment, you will be added to a wait-list and notified if a space becomes available.