Four ceramics workshops are being offered as part of the Cullowhee Mountain ARTS Summer Visual ART Series at Western Carolina University’s School of Art and Design.

• June 25 – 29: Hayne Bayless will teach the workshop “Happiness is A Warm Extruder and a Sassy Slab.” Bayless will help students to explore extrusion and slab techniques in making functional stoneware. Topics include cutting stencils from Tyvek, colored slip inlay, stretched slabs, liquid latex resist using deer-tail brushes and making custom extruder dies. The class is for non-beginners to advanced. Bayless has exhibited at Smithsonian Craft Show and Minnesota Potters Tour.

• July 9 – 13: Gay Smith will teach the workshop “Working to Make the Pots You Want to Make.” This workshop will cover making functional ware, mugs, cups, etc. on the pottery wheel. Demonstrations will cover techniques, altering form and surface design. Discussion may include raw glazing and soda firing. All skill are levels welcome. Smith’s work is exhibited at the Mint Museum and Taiwan’s Yingge Museum.

• July 16 – 20: Nick Joerling will teach the workshop “Pots/Possibilities.” Beginning with wheel-thrown pots, students will be guided to push, cut, coax and stretch forms. Time will be given to exploring ways of making handles, lids and spouts. Some throwing experience is recommended. Joerling maintains a studio in Penland.

• July 30 – August 3: Melisa Cadell will teach the workshop “Dynamic Anatomy.” The emphasis will be to hand-build dynamic figures in clay that create tension or mood.  Surface treatment as it relates to the sculptural form will be also addressed.  The goal of the class is to give the student the tools they need to create successful work that incorporates proportion, visual movement and color. Cadell owns and operates “Cadell Studios” in Bakersville, where she works primarily with the figure in clay.

www.cullowheemountainarts.org.