Intro to Wild Clay

4 Saturdays; March 16th, 23rd and April 6th, 13th from 11-3pm  Pottery has always been an art and science of the earth. Foraging for local clays begins a conversation with our local landscape in which our understanding of the geological narratives and mineral personalities in our hands deepens with time and experimentation. This four part series explores the complex chemistry and creativity of working with wild clays of the Pacific Northwest and how to integrate them into your pottery practice. The first two classes will include a hands-on exploration of the different clay personalities one finds when foraging, how to identify appropriate places for foraging, basics of blending theory, additives and aggregates, and how to process clay for best results. Everyone will make small pinch pots and tiles for testing, which will then be bisque fired and mid-ranged fired for the third and fourth classes. In the third class, we will discuss techniques for bisque firing earthenware clays and the