Intro to Ceramics with Sarah McCord

Intro to Ceramics

July 31 – August 21

Intro to Ceramics

Four-week Wheel-Throwing and Hand-Building Workshop with AX Artist in Residence, Sarah McCord

RESGISTRATION IS FULL!

Wednesday Evenings 6pm-9pm
July 31, August 7, 14, 21
Ages 16+ | $180

AX is pleased to welcome upcoming artist in residence, Sarah McCord to the ceramic centre for a four-week immersive Intro to Ceramics workshop! In this workshop you will learn the basics of wheel-throwing and hand-building, glazing and decorating techniques and create a few pieces to bring home!

Registrations will open on July 15, and with a limited number of spots available, this is sure to fill up quickly! Please visit axartscentre.ca, click the link in our bio, or call (506) 433-8351 to register.

Schedule

Week 1 (July 31)– We will spend most of this week hand-building with earthenware clay, learning the basics of slab building where you will be guided through making a tumbler, mug, or planter, as well as a small trinket dish. Finally, you will be guided through a short 15 minute experience on the wheel! The first week you will go home with optional homework of watching wheel throwing videos and finding textured items to personalize your pots.

Week 2 & 3 (August 7, August 14)- Each student will spend 50 minutes on the wheel learning basic techniques for throwing a cylinder, and spend the remainder of the class hand-building and adding texture/details to their pots.

Week 4 (August 21)- Decorate your creations with underglaze and get them ready for bisque firing. You will also decorate a stoneware pot that has already been bisque fired so that you get the chance to see how brush on glazing and mid-fire clay works.

About the Artist

I currently teach Art and English at Kennebecasis Valley High School. I have always been drawn to Visual Arts growing up, its universal communication potential, and ability to connect people to one another and nature. I have spent a lot of time exploring acrylic painting and mixed media. I painted wooden ornaments for a couple of years that have been sold in the NB Box. I have been involved in several community art projects recently including creator of KV Mini Art galleries, 2023 Integration Festival Uptown Saint John, 2022 Artists in Schools Grant with Artist Karen Knight, and successfully taught a mixed media workshop for children at De Las Artes School of Arts in Quispamsis. I have a BA in Psychology/English, a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education with a minor in Art Education, and a Master of Education in Exceptional Learners. I am always learning; I began my journey with ceramics in 2023 when an artist visited our school. Following this partnership, I eagerly took a course at AX Arts Centre with Alana Wilson, and most recently completed a course at SJ Arts Centre, making use of studio time after. I bought my own wheel a few months ago and have a home studio and run a Cone Art Kiln at school. I want to spend the rest of my life creating with clay and giving my students as many experiences with it as I can!