Monday - Friday September 7 - 11, 2025 | 10 am - 5 pm

Intermediate Level: open to all skill levels, but covers technical material

* This session covers the same information as the May session.

Description

Join instructors Mitch Iburg and Zoë Powell at Studio Alluvium in Saint Paul, Minnesota to learn the foundations of working with local clays and minerals in the ceramics studio.

This 4.5-day hands-on workshop will provide guidelines on identifying, foraging, processing, and testing a variety of materials collected from around Minnesota. Participants will learn how to use these resources to develop clay bodies, slips, and glazes. Student work will be fired to cone 6 in oxidation and will be available to take home on the last day of the workshop.

This workshop includes at least one field trip to an off-site location. The daily schedule will vary, but students should expect to be in class between 10-5, with an hour-long lunch break at noon. The final day of the workshop is from 9-12 to allow travel time for students returning home. Participants will be responsible for their own lodging, travel and meals. Students may bring a lunch or order from a nearby restaurant for delivery or pickup. Please let us know at checkout if you are able to provide transportation for other students during field trips.

Hotel and Restaurant Recommendations

All topics discussed in this workshop will easily translate to anyone’s home studio practice, even if you have access to different materials. Participants will be able to use this information to locate and test their own materials at home.

All registrants will receive a digital copy of the Studio Alluvium Workbook, which outlines useful geologic information, clay harvesting resources, and testing procedures. This is emailed to students a week before class begins.

Health and Safety

Portions of the workshop may involve climbing on steep, rocky terrain. Participants are asked to come prepared for potentially messy clay preparation.

Topics Covered

• health and safety in the studio and field

• defining clays

• overview of clay types and their properties

• finding and identifying clays and other resources

• bulk processing techniques for clays and common non-clay materials

• testing procedures (including line blends, triaxials, + grog tests)

• interpreting finished results

In recognizing that our work takes place on Native land, every year we donate a portion of the proceeds from our in-person workshops to a local Indigenous-led non-profit organization. 

Entry Level: open to all skill levels


Description

This 3h 45m pre-recorded workshop with Mitch Iburg discusses the Tea Bowl and its historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance.

This class will begin with a brief overview of the Tea Bowl and its connection to the tea drinking traditions of China, Korea, and Japan. We will examine its role in the Japanese Tea Ceremony (Chanoyu) and how the Tea Bowl can be viewed as a reflection of many evolving cultural influences and historical events. Additionally, we will talk the Tea Bowl’s relationship to the aesthetic principle of Wabi Sabi, examine various styles made throughout history, and look at works made by contemporary artists who have brought new life to the art form.

Following this discussion, instructor Mitch Iburg will demonstrate several forming and trimming methods he uses to create his tea ware - emphasizing the way technique, tools, and clay body can coalesce to influence the expression of a piece.

Students are encouraged to use these methods to develop their own unique ceramic objects.

Upon purchasing you will receive an email with a PDF download which includes a link to the workshop recording. If you do not receive this email within an hour of purchasing, please check your spam folder.

Entry Level: open to all skill levels


Description

This 4h 45m pre-recorded workshop with Zoë Powell is about designing pouring vessels with coordinating cups.

The video begins with demonstrations on what makes a well-designed pouring vessel, including a discussion on different spout styles and how these features affect the function of the overall piece. Zoë then shares several hand-building techniques that can be used to create different styles of pourers. Throughout the class, we also discuss how to approach the idea of a matching “set” and will demonstrate how to make cups that coordinate with each style of spouted vessel.

This is a demonstration-based workshop. Students are encouraged to use these methods to develop their own unique ceramic objects.

Upon purchasing you will receive an email with a PDF download which includes a link to the workshop recording. If you do not receive this email within an hour of purchasing, please check your spam folder.

Entry Level: open to all skill levels


Description

This 3h 45m pre-recorded workshop outlines many of the key points needed to set up a small business as a ceramic artist. Whether you’re looking to expand your audience or wondering how to approach galleries, this information will be useful for anyone looking to take the next step towards building their career.

Topics covered include:

-career development
-finances
-taxes
-productivity
-branding and marketing
-clients
-working with galleries
-sales and shipping
-sustainable studio practices
-tips for self sufficiency
and more

Upon purchasing you will receive our 32-page Professional Practices Guidebook, which includes a link to the workshop recording.

If you do not receive the recording and guidebook within an hour of purchasing, please check your spam folder.