Wheel Throwing and Raku for All Levels
Instructor: Ryder Gordon
Session 2:
Thursdays
November 5 - December 10
9am - 12pm
Open Studio: 12pm - 4pm
6 sessions, at the Main Campus in the Wheel Room

Ryder welcomes all levels of throwers to his Thursday morning class. He has experience instructing beginners to advanced students in all aspects of the ceramic process. In this class, students will learn how to throw on the potter’s wheel, can learn new techniques, or hone specific skills. Ryder will help students increase the amount of clay they can handle successfully, throw thinner and taller, and throw new shapes. We will practice attachments, such as handles, as well as pulling handles directly from the side of the cup. The class will focus on tableware – mugs, cups, bowls, plates, etc, but all ideas and forms of expression through clay are encouraged. In addition to our regular cone 10 reduction firings, this class will also include Raku firings!

Ryder grew up in the Boston area, where he was introduced to the potter’s wheel at a young age. He graduated with a degree in art education and ceramics from UMass Dartmouth. He has studied wood, gas, and soda firing with Chris Gustin and Chris Smith, as well as raku with Stephen Branfman (to name only a few!). Ryder has instructed and assisted at The Potter’s Shop and School in Needham, Peter’s Valley School of Craft, and Castle Hill Center for the Arts. Ryder’s work is defined by pushing the limits of what can be accomplished both on and off the potter’s wheel. He creates functional pottery with shapes that bulge, grow, and swirl as well as more decorative coil-built vessels. Ryder uses glaze and atmospheric firing to highlight his complex forms, creating dynamic surfaces.

*This class includes one 25lb bag of clay and the bisque firing.
Glazing is not included in the workshop tuition. If you wish to glaze your work, you can set up open studio time to do so, and pay a glaze fee per cubic inch of kiln space.