Clay & Fire: East Creek Ceramics Retreat
Tuition: $350 | Materials: $35
Join Joe Robinson, co-founder of the East Creek Art Center, for a two-day ceramics retreat 60 miles from Portland in Oregon's coastal mountains, near the small town of Willamina. During your retreat at East Creek, you'll learn how to make, glaze, and fire ceramic art. The Saturday session will have students immersed in ceramic making guided by Joe, with options to work on the potter's wheel, experience a variety of demonstrations on hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques, and receive personal coaching on technique. That evening, the group will share a celebratory dinner cooked in the wood fired pizza oven. On Sunday, students will receive two vessels made by Joe, with the opportunity to play with surface design and see the results of Raku firing and horsehair Raku firing. Pieces will be heated to 1800F, pulled red hot from the kiln and placed in a bed of combustibles. Prepare for a show of fire and smoke! Practicing ceramic artists are welcome to bring their own bisque for the firing as well.
As an additional option, students can arrange with Joe to return to East Creek for a firing of the 40 foot Anagama wood kiln with the pieces made during the workshop. This special workshop firing will host artists from around the state and country. Date, TBD. For those who can’t make it, all work will be shipped to the WildCraft Studio in Portland for your pick-up.
Ideal for those with some ceramic knowledge. Beginners are welcome, as are advanced folks looking to play and experiment.
About East Creek: East Creek is a community art studio and ceramics retreat center, situated on 20 acres of lush forest. A historic 40-foot wood fired Anagama kiln is a rare feature of this compound. Built in 1983, the kiln is the second of its kind in the US. East Creek is pleased to host guests overnight with space to camp, tiny cabins and a bunkhouse. Joe has been part of the East Creek community for eighteen years, and has owned the property for seven. He has a MFA in Applied Craft + Design from Pacific Northwest College of Art and Oregon College of Art and Craft. Please read East Creek’s Covid-19 and vaccine policy prior to enrollment. For info on lodging and meals, visit https://www.eastcreekart.org/wildcraft
No previous experience necessary, but ideal for those with some ceramic knowledge. This workshop is open to anyone 18 years old & over who meet the Essential Eligibility Criteria for Studio Workshops. All participants must accept the inherent risks of participating in a Studio Workshop and agree to sign a liability waiver. This waiver describes in more detail the risks you assume by participating in a Studio Workshop. PLEASE carefully review it!
Please review our updated Cancellation Policy.
For information on Inherent Risk & Safety and our COVID-19 protocol please click here.
Please be aware that WildCraft Studio School LLC may livestream this class and record it for later viewing. By participating in a class, you understand and agree that the class may be recorded and/or livestreamed, that you may appear in the recording and/or livestream, and you consent to the use of your image as it may appear in the recording or livestream. If you have any questions or concerns about the recording or livestreaming of the class, please contact us.