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A two-part workshop at our sister studio Mud Matters on Wednesday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 30, 2–5 pm.

Join Barbara Stone in examining ways to enhance the mugs you make. The first session will focus on the form itself and the second, two weeks later, will examine trimming, decoration, and handle making.

Basic throwing skills required. Greenware pieces can be taken home. If you want your pieces bisque fired at Mud Matters, we will charge 5 cents per cubic inch/piece. Bisqued pieces will be ready for pick up about 2–4 weeks later.

$150 for both sessions

Register now for Get a Handle on Your Mugs Workshop

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Please join us for an examination of the history, meaning and making of Japanese Tea Bowls (Chawans). These classic shapes are the centerpiece of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Their shape and aesthetic has accompanied the evolution of Japanese ceramics for centuries and have later had a strong impact on many American potters.

This will be a three-part series:

Two free 30 minute (with time afterwards for questions) online lectures February 18 and February 22 at 12:30pm.

The in-person workshop will be at Mud Matters on March 9th from 12:30–4:30 pm.

The online lectures and workshop will be led by Nessim Cohen, a ceramist and art critic specializing in the history of Japanese ceramics, tea wares, and tea ceremony.

The first lecture, on Friday, February 18th, 12:30pm, will be about the origin of the tea bowl (chawan) and the Raku family, the first dynasty of ceramists dedicated to the making of chawans for the Japanese tea ceremony.

The second lecture, on Tuesday, February 22nd, 12:30pm, will be about Wabisabi, the philosophy and aesthetic movement behind the technique of making raku tea bowls. 

On March 9th, Nessim will be teaching the art of creating ceramic tea bowls. An accomplished ceramicist, he will demonstrate and describe several traditional approaches to hand building these classic forms before assisting the participants in making their own tea bowls. ($100/participants. $15/piece for us to bisque fire).

While one session will follow logically from the one or ones before, you need not sign up for all.

We invite you to join us and discover how to make your own teabowls.

Register for Workshop at Mud Matters to Create Chawans on March 9

Register for Online Lecture - February 18th at 12:30pm

Register for Online Lecture - February 22 at 12:30pm

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Enhance your wheel throwing skills: Learn how to throw larger, more elegant pieces with instructor Léan van der Merwe.

Léan van der Merwe throwing a pot on the wheel

August 23rd and 24th
10:30 am–4:30 pm
Price $399 per person before Aug 22, $450 on day of.

Although this workshop is open to any experience level, it is not for total beginners. Participants must have some basic wheel throwing knowledge (and be 18 years or older). La Mano will supply tools, aprons, towels, as well as clay.

During this two-day workshop, we will demo and practice special techniques that make centering and shaping large amounts of clay easy and comfortable. There will be time for one-on-one help and special request demos. Plus, we will cover how to trim large or difficult shapes, making them lighter, more uniform, and graceful.

Please note: Current members of either La Mano or Mud Matters will have the option to fire pieces made during the workshop; for nonmembers, pieces will not be saved.

Léan van der Merwe
Léan is a South African Potter from Cape Town, in the US for only two weeks in August. He gained notoriety on Instagram with his @argilebylean account. Léan is pottery obsessed and pushes his limits as frequently as possible. He has taught himself how to regularly centre over 20kg (44lbs) of clay, shape large vessels and throw huge bowls. He enjoys teaching his personal techniques and knowledge to the greater ceramics community.

Register now »

If you're having trouble registering, please contact us.